Kingblind.com presents: Kings of the Vinyl Frontier

This Saturday July 31th at Smarty Pants in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, WA. DJ Kingblind, DJ Teenage Rampage and DJ Self-Administered Beatdown will be spinning at our new DJ night…

It’s called: KINGS OF THE VINYL FRONTIER

Here are the details,

Kings of the Vinyl Frontier is a DJ night on the last Saturday of every month for vinyl lovers at Smarty Pants in the georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. The concept is simple, Every month we have a new theme to keep things fresh.. July’s theme is: Soul !

Cost: 100% free
Date: Saturday July 31th 2010
Time: 8pm till closing

Please check out the website for complete details and directions
http://www.kingsofthevinylfrontier.com

Kings of the Vinyl Frontier (At Smarty Pants)
6017 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA. 98108
(206) 762-4777

NEW YORK — Yoko Ono will again oppose the release of the man who nearly 30 years ago killed her husband, former Beatle John Lennon, and who comes up for parole next month, her lawyer said.

Ono has consistently opposed parole for Mark David Chapman and has again sent a letter to the parole board, her lawyer, Peter Shukat, told the Daily News.

“Her position has not changed,” Shukat said in an article published Tuesday.

Lennon was shot to death on Dec. 8, 1980, outside the famed Dakota apartment building just west of Central Park as he and Ono returned home from a recording session.

Chapman — now 55 and serving a 20-years-to-life sentence for the slaying — is scheduled to be interviewed by a three-member parole board panel during the week of Aug. 9. It will be his sixth bid for parole.

Shukat refused to say whether Ono’s most recent letter to the board is the same one she has submitted every two years since Chapman first became eligible for parole in 2000.

In that letter, Ono wrote that if Chapman is released, “I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once again. Myself and John’s two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our lives.”
She also wrote that Chapman would not be safe if allowed back on the streets.

Due to his notoriety, Chapman is kept in a special unit apart from the upstate Attica prison’s general population. He works as a porter, cleaning up offices, and assists inmates in one of the prison’s law libraries.

Despite some early minor prison violations, Chapman’s record has been clean since 1994, the Daily News said.

Robert Gangi, head of the prisoners’ rights group, Correctional Association of America, doubts Chapman will be released because of the public outrage it would cause.

“Given that he committed a high-profile crime and he killed one of the most famous and most beloved figures literally in the world, it’s highly unlikely three parole commissioners would vote to grant him release,” Gangi told the News.

Lennon would have been 70 this October.

Its members’ other endeavors are beckoning, but the Dead Weather is not over — at least as far as bassist “Little” Jack Lawrence is concerned.

“We all go back to our other projects after this tour, but there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be doing more stuff,” Lawrence tells Billboard.com. He, in fact, rejoins the Greenhornes for “Four Stars,” the trio’s first release in five years and first full-length album in eight.

Guitarist Dean Fertita leaves the Dead Weather tour “a few hours after” it finishes on Aug. 3 in Brooklyn to return to Queens of the Stone Age, while singer Alison Mosshart is recording a new album with the Kills. Jack White, meanwhile, is rumored to be jump-starting the White Stripes but is also busy with his Third Man label — which will release the Greenhornes album on vinyl — and studio.

Nevertheless, Lawrence predicts that by the end of the year, the band “will either be recording or doing some more shows. I don’t think we can stop; even if someone was too busy, nothing seems like it’s going to be getting in the way of this,” he says. “Our other bands are still alive, obviously, but this one is right up there. It doesn’t feel like a side project or anything to us. It feels like a real band. And I think it’s just getting better the more we get to play.”

The Dead Weather began working on new material immediately after the release of 2009′s “Horehound,” which gave the group a head start on this year’s “Sea of Cowards.” Lawrence says the group has “a couple things that we’ve been messing around with,” but not nearly to the same degree. He’s not concerned about the quartet coming up with the goods when it comes together, however.

“It just flows so naturally with us in the studio,” he explains. “A lot of it has to do with us just knowing how to be in a band. The ego’s gone and we all know how to work together and function. There’s never been a time in the studio when anyone’s argued or butted heads over something. We all sit in a room and write together. Everything is pretty smooth operating. We haven’t planned on anything. It just all comes together. We don’t sit around and discuss it or talk about the next move we need to make. All of it just happens, which is refreshing. It’s the way you always want bands to work.”

Lawrence says there’s no talk yet of resurrecting the Raconteurs — which he and White are also part of — but he’s excited to return to the Greenhornes, which has been on a five-year hiatus.

“Those guys are my brothers,” he says of guitarist Craig Fox and drummer Patrick Keeler. “It’s nice to come back to that first ‘home’ that you’ve had after all these years. We practiced last month at Patrick’s place and it was…just really specially. I had a pretty big smile on my face the whole time we were playing.”

Two all-black CDs. A quote from Alec Empire on the booklet. A skeletal hand on the cover – Faust’s first album in a decade couldn’t look more goth if it tried. Happily, this is the Krautrock pioneers as we know and love them.

If disc two is slightly redundant (‘Karneval’, in particular, rambles on for over seven minutes without going anywhere much), disc one is fantastic; a noisy, dissonant and occasionally beautiful gesamtkunstwerk that captures Faust in all their guises, from the unsettling Mt Zion strings of ‘Nachtfahrt’ to ‘Hit Me’, with its raucous, fuzzed up garage rock. A weird and welcome return.

If you ever wanted to see Damon Albarn’s animated crew in person, you’re in luck. Gorillaz are touring the world starting in October, including stops in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. Dates are below.

And if your Gorillaz experience somehow still isn’t multi-media enough, they have a new iPhone/iPad game out called Escape to Plastic Beach– details and a trailer for it can be found here.

Gorillaz:

10-03 – Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre
10-05 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre
10-06 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
10-08 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
10-10 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
10-11 – Fairfax, VA – Patriot Center
10-13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
10-14 – Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre
10-16 – Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion
10-17 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
10-19 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
10-20 – Dallas, TX – Verizon Theatre
10-22 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center
10-24 – Denver, CO – Wells Fargo Theatre
10-26 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
10-27 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheatre
10-30 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
11-02 – Seattle, WA – Key Arena
11-03 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Rogers Arena
11-11 – Dublin, Ireland – O2 Arena
11-12 – Manchester, England – Evening News Arena
11-14 – London, England – O2 Arena
11-15 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Heineken Music Hall
11-17 – Birmingham, England – NIA
11-18 – Brighton, England – Centre
11-21 – Berlin, Germany – Velodrom
11-23 – Paris, France – Zenith
11-25 – Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto
12-06 – Perth, Australia – Burswood Dome
12-08 – Adelaide, Australia – Entertainment Centre
12-11 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver
12-16 – Sydney, Australia – Entertainment Centre
12-19 – Brisbane, Australia – Entertainment Centre
12-21 – Auckland, New Zealand – Vector Arena
(via pfmedia)

Interpol have said that they are not afraid of making new music without bassist Carlos Dengler, who left the group earlier this year.

Speaking to Spinner, drummer Sam Fogarino admitted that while the group have no plans yet to work on new material after recording their as-yet unreleased self-titled album, when they do they will “rely on other strengths” from within the band.

“I don’t think we’re afraid to work on music without him,” he said. “But it’s just so far away. Who knows how we’ll feel in a year-and-a-half or two years.”

He added: “As to whether [Dengler's talent] will be missed, yeah, how can it not be? The band will just rely on other strengths in the future. Emotionally, it will be missed but pragmatically, no. We’re all pretty capable musicians.”

The upcoming self-titled LP, the follow-up 2007′s ‘Our Love To Admire’, is the last to feature Dengler, who as well as playing bass on their forthcoming new album, was also involved with many of the arrangements and orchestration.

“He started leaning toward that application, kind of composing harmonies on keyboards early on,” Fogarino explained. “He started to, I think, feel more redeemed as a musician doing that. The bass became more a duty, a function, than a passion. He’s always claimed to never have been a bass player, which is strange to me because he’s one of the best bass players I’ve ever played with.”

‘Interpol’ is due out in September, while the group recently announced ‘Barricade’ will be the first single lifted from the record.

Google is in “accelerated” talks regarding the launch of its Google Music Store, according to the New York Post. One aspect of those talks are said to be discussions with Harry Fox Agency, which the Post sees as a sign that discussions with labels have proceeded to the point where Google can begin to plan for mechanical royalties.

In this context, Google would be speaking with Harry Fox because it is likely planning on selling digital downloads that will require it to be a licensee. Harry Fox issues mechanical licenses for music publishers, collects and distributes those mechanical royalties and distributes synchronization fees for licenses granted prior to 2002.

It would make sense for Google to offer some sort of cloud-based service in addition to a download store. Mechanical royalties would not arise from such a service.

As Billboard reported last week, Google has hired attorney Elizabeth Moody to help it secure deals with copyright owners in the music industry. “Where it’s been going recently, it’s subscription models again, but it’s streaming from the cloud,” she told Billboard. “The technology has advanced where we can do that now, and the price points have come down.”

Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ concert film Live in London is now available to download on iTunes. The 80-minute film captures 16 songs from the band’s December 1, 2009 show at the 02 Academy in Brixton. It was directed by Nick Wood. Check out a trailer below:

The film was directed by Vincent Moon and Nathanael Le Scouarnac (of La Blogotheque’s Take-Away Shows fame). These creative powerhouses in film and music have come together with Mogwai to produce something undeniably unique and mesmerizing, grabbing the audience from the first opening seconds and never letting go. A Mogwai gig is an experience of the senses, and Burning comes as close to the real thing as one could ever hope. Kingblind.com is proud to host a screening of this great film before it’s official release on August 24th. You can pre-order at the link listed on the bottom of this post. Enjoy the film!

The screening will start at 12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST/8:00 PM GMT Tuesday July 27th. 2010

The format will be an introduction of the film by Stuart from Mogwai and Vincent Moon the director followed by the screening and then ended with a question and answer session with audience members viewing via the web (see below)

pre-order link for the Mogwai Special Moves bundles.

UPDATE:
In celebration of Burning, Barry Burns of Mogwai was nice enough to submit a mixtape for us filled with some choice minimal wave tracks.

MOGWAI – INTERNATIONAL TAPES MIX
1. Flashing – Goblin
2. Game and Performance – Deux
3. Maniac – John Maus
4. Polaroid/Roman/Photo – Ruth
5. The Cornubia – Beak
6. Quick Canal (feat Laetitia Sadier) – Atlas Sound
7. Million Angels – Severed Heads
8. Film 2 – Grauzone
9. The Bird – Pavan
10. Growls Garden – Clark
11. Black Rice – Women
12. In a Manner of Speaking – Tuxedomoon
13. Beams – Tape
14. House on Highland Ave – The Gun Club
15. Friendly Fires – Section 25

Scotland’s post-rock powerhouse Mogwai is releasing their very first live film + album on August 24th, but before that we are happy to announce that on July 27th at12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST/8:00 PM GMT The film, will be shown right here on Kingblind.com, This film is absolutely stunning.. The format will be an introduction of the film by Stuart from the band and Vincent Moon the director followed by the screening and then ended with a question and answer session with audience members viewing via the web.

The film was directed by Vincent Moon and Nathanael Le Scouarnac (of La Blogotheque’s Take-Away Shows fame). These creative powerhouses in film and music have come together with Mogwai to produce something undeniably unique and mesmerizing, grabbing the audience from the first opening seconds and never letting go. A Mogwai gig is an experience of the senses, and Burning comes as close to the real thing as one could ever hope.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday July 27th July 27th at12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST/8:00 PM GMT

Daft Punk’s upcoming soundtrack to Tron Legacy. The six instrumental bits are ominous, booming, and quite epic– and they’re streaming at the movie’s official site Or you can get some full on chunks of electro goodness below, Tron Legacy is out December 17, and the soundtrack is expected around that time.

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daft1<---Click to Listen

daft2<---Click to Listen

daft3<---Click to Listen

daft4<---Click to Listen

daft5<---Click to Listen

daft6<---Click to Listen

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(via pitchfork and The End Seattle)

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

Performing a Beatles song by yourself on acoustic guitar can be a daunting task. But performing a Beatles song by yourself on acoustic guitar at the White House with Barack Obama and Paul McCartney sitting mere feet away from you is on another level entirely. wow.
(via twentyfourbit, pitchfork)

Carl Barat has revealed that the Libertines will prepare for their biggest ever live shows at the Reading and Leeds festivals with a gig at London’s Forum venue sometime in August.

The guitarist and singer also revealed the band hasn’t played together since their press conference in a London pub back in March, when the quartet announced their return after a six-year absence.

Barat explained to the BBC Radio 1′s Newsbeat, “It’s always a bit last minute with the Libertines. If we did it any other way it wouldn’t be the Libertines.” A date for the show has yet to be confirmed.

Not that Barat is particularly worried by the lack of preparation. He said, “We’ve got a bit of time blocked out. As I say it’s a bit last minute — it always is. Of course we’ll be able to do it and we’ll be able to do it with aplomb.”

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Six Shooters’ exhibition at London’s Proud Gallery, the one-time Dirty Pretty Thing discussed his thoughts on playing with the Libertines again ahead of the band’s much-anticipated return. “Obviously, it’s always nerve-racking, but again that’s all part of what it is to be in that band. Overall I’m excited, and that’s starting to come through a lot more now. It started off as pure nerves. Now I’m starting to look forward to it,” he said.

Questioned on the band’s plans for after Leeds and Reading though, Barat remained non-committal, simply saying, “We’ll have to wait to see, hey?”

The Libertines headline Leeds on Friday Aug. 27 and Reading the following the day.

Gypsy punk rockers Gogol Bordello released a new animated video today. Directed by acclaimed Russian video director Aliaksei Tserakhau, the video for their single “Pala Tute” is a mixed media collage blending stop-motion animation and live action with lead singer Eugene Hütz and Gogol Bordello band mate Elizabeth Sun featured as claymation, star-crossed lovers in passing caravans venturing through time and space in re-imagined classic stories ranging from the Garden of Eden to Dracula’s Transylvania.
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That his ‘main’ band Grizzly Bear is currently white-hot ensures Daniel Rossen’s Department Of Eagles project gains elevated significance. Largely taken from (in their words) a “failed” January 2006 session, this dredge through their formative recordings is an unfettered joy; charting Rossen and sidekick Fred Nicolaus’ transformation from green-gilled college mates, to masters in the creation of dark, expansive Americana. A series of five ‘Practice Room Sketches’ outline a burgeoning sense of the grandiose, while the surging skiffle and soaring chorus of ‘Brightest Minds’ is positively euphoric. A magical insight into the development of Rossen’s creative genius.

The Like might sound like they come from Brighton but they actually hail from LA. Their debut album ‘Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?’ was released in 2005 through Geffen Records, they now follow this up with the release of ‘Release Me’. The writing and recording process was that of a long one, partnering with many songwriters, producers and artists but the final product is one the band are happy with.

Mark Ronson took lead with the production whilst Thomas Brenneck and Homer Steinweiss (of The Dap Kings) also leant a helping hand on other tracks.
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Fugazi fan-site World Of Fugazi spoke to Fugazi co-vocalist Guy Picciotto who confirmed that the band is nearing the end of a lengthy project to digitize their complete live archive. Guy said this:

We are not that far away from being able to set up our own website where ultimately almost every show we ever played will be available for download. The infrastructure for this new website is currently being developed and the band continues to sift through and convert the footage from its enormous live archive. There will be an official announcement on Dischord.com later in the year with more details when things get closer to completion.

The band has previously made available plenty of live material both through the Fugazi Live Series and through services like Etree.

As anyone who has witnessed a Flaming Lips show can tell you, the whole thing is a balance of song and spectacle. The latter is always there — Flaming Lips shows are likely known best for the antics involving lasers, confetti, smoke, lights and, of course, Wayne Coyne traversing the crowd in an inflatable ball. The songs, however, can get lost in the haze, serving more as a platform for the party to spring forth.

But to a sold-out crowd at Pittsburgh’s Trib Total Media Amphitheatre, Coyne and company struck a near-perfect balance, bashing through both party tricks and great music during a two-hour set on Tuesday night.

Located on the banks of the Monongahela River, wedged between downtown Pittsburgh and Mt. Washington, the venue was a win for the Lips before they played a note — it already seems otherworldly without any hallucinogens. But the band took further advantage of the setting: just before the Lips took the stage, Coyne told the crowd he’d set up microphones along the riverside train tracks that bordered the amphitheatre.

“How often do you get treated to a 40-car caboose? I think it’s beautiful!” said Coyne.

As the Lips finished the classic ‘She Don’t Use Jelly,’ a train chugged by and the mics were turned on.

“We’ve never gotten to play a show where a train was just 40 feet away,” said Coyne, in genuine awe. “We always take advantage of anything that makes a wonderful noise.”

Few bands so naturally include the audience as the Flaming Lips. Though Coyne urged the crowd to “Come on!” almost as much as he sang actual lyrics, he held the audience’s attention the whole show. ‘I Can Be a Frog,’ from last year’s double album ‘Embryonic,’ with its lyrical list of animals, had the crowd buzzing, growling and roaring like some kindergarten sing-along made for a very adult party.

With the menacing ‘See the Leaves,’ the band dove into the night’s deepest groove and broke out sparkling lasers to accent the humid night sky.

The show ended on a less than surprising note with ‘Do You Realize??’ — the song has become the Flaming Lips’ calling card, and though it was an expected closer, it still packed a joyful emotional punch.

Relying on the same video/light show as tours last year, the Lips may need to make some changes to their spectacle to match the boost of new songs. But, at least in Pittsburgh, the spectacle and song balance was note perfect, and the party was in the air.

Fans that are unable to get to one of the Arcade Fire’s two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden next month need not worry. The Aug. 5 performance by the Quebec-based indie giants will be streamed live on YouTube.

Following in the footsteps of bands like U2 and the National, Arcade Fire are promoting the event with a new video trailer. The clip features a snippet of a previously-unheard new track, ‘Rococco,’ which will be found on their upcoming third album, ‘The Suburbs.’

The band’s married co-leaders, Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, appear as puppets in the trailer, which was rumored to have been directed by Spike Jonze. This conflicts a report by the Vine that the trailer was the work of Montreal-based production company Clyde Henry.

The webcast itself will be directed by “a well-known, as-yet-unnamed luminary” according to Gorilla vs. Bear. Whether or not it’ll be Jonze — who got his start helming videos by the Breeders and Weezer — is anybody’s guess, but with the show just a few weeks away, official word should follow soon.

Untitled from Arcade Fire on Vimeo.

In this age of instant fame and ceaseless news cycle, the “icon” label gets tossed around with reckless abandon. As Neil Young demonstrated Tuesday night at the Paramount Theatre, he’s the real deal — a modern folk-rock legend without peer.

Through career turns spanning four decades with Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Crazy Horse; and on his own, Young’s timeless tenor has seamlessly weaved tales of love, dishonor, death and despair while often focusing on his passionate disdain for war and environmental destruction.

Tuesday night’s 90-minute, 18-song show was no exception. Young mixed examples from his thick book of classics with abundant new material. Onstage, it was Young — outfitted in white Panama hat, long white linen jacket and well-worn jeans — and his musical gear: a collection of acoustic and electric guitars, two pianos and the pipe organ that has seemingly traveled with him forever.

Young opened with three crowd-pleasers: “My, My, Hey, Hey (Out of the Blue),” “Tell Me Why” and “Helpless.” From there it was on to unexplored territory: the darkly humorous “You Never Call” (“You’re up in heaven with nothing to do/the ultimate vacation with no back pain”), memorializing the recent death of a longtime friend and associate, L.A. Johnson; “Peaceful Valley,” a polemic on the costs of America’s westward expansion; a somber, compelling anti-war hymn, “Love and War,” which is every bit as good as his hurriedly produced “Living With War” album was disappointing.

The balance of the show alternated between old and new: the oft-covered Young/Crazy Horse rocker, “Down by the River” gave way to the new, comparatively unremarkable “Hitchhiker.” Young smoldered into the anti-war anthem “Ohio” as he prowled and paced across the stage. Two sweetly humble debut tracks followed: “Sign of Love” (“We both have silver hair/and a little less time/but there still are roses on the vine”) and “Leia,” played on the tinkly tuned upright piano.

Next, Young stepped up to the pipe organ as aficionados accurately anticipated “After the Gold Rush,” which Young played in a spare, calliope-like arrangement with harmonica accents, moving into another timeless number from the 1970 “After The Gold Rush” album, “I Believe In You.” A new eco-themed song, “Rumblin’,” laments global climate change and a slew of other environmental tribulations from Mother Earth’s perspective with the refrain, “I feel the rumblin’ in her ground.”

Two favorites, “Cortez the Killer” and “Cinnamon Girl,” closed the main set. Young played two encore tunes, “Old Man” from his 1972 album, “Harvest,” and a last new song, “Walk With Me,” which he closed with feedback effects and a back-and-forth swing of his Gretsch White Falcon guitar reminiscent of the pendulum on an old grandfather clock.

The symbolism of that guitar swing — the inevitable passage of time — was an unavoidable subtext throughout the show. The crowd was mostly grayish. At 64, Young — like the crowd — was as energetic and as passionate as ever, but he too is increasingly jowly and gray. He couldn’t hit the very top notes on “Down by the River,” and “Cinnamon Girl” and was tuned low to avoid any problems. Not that anyone among the respectful gathering seemed to care or even notice.

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LA Weekly:

Hummel, a key Big Star figure, particularly during the recording of second album Radio City, appears to have died today after a long illness.

We are awaiting official confirmation of this sad piece of news. The closest confirmation right now comes from Posies’ frontman Ken Stringfellow, who was close to the surviving members of the pioneering Memphis power-pop band. Stringfellow’s Twitter account just posted: “Another sad loss for Big Star fans as Andy Hummel passes away after long illness.”

Variety:

Andy Hummel, founding bassist for the influential ‘70s Memphis band Big Star, died of cancer July 19 in Weatherford, Texas. He was 59.

Though inactive in music since the mid-‘70s, Hummel appeared with drummer Jody Stephens at a panel on Big Star and a tribute show during the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival in March; the emotional performance, at Antone’s, paid tribute to vocalist-guitarist-songwriter Alex Chilton, who died March 17, on the eve of the convention.

Hummel was raised in Memphis and after playing in several hometown teen combos, he joined the group Icewater, whose personnel included Stephens and singer-guitarist-songwriter Chris Bell. The band morphed into Big Star with the addition of ex-Box Tops lead singer Chilton in 1971…

Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Hummel had been receiving treatment for the past couple of years, but recently went in for a hip operation and was informed that the cancer had spread and that his condition was terminal.

“At that point,” said Hummel’s friend, Ardent Studios owner and Big Star producer John Fry, “Andy elected to accept hospice care and spent the last couple weeks at home with his family.”

“He was such an inspiration,” said Big Star drummer Jody Stephens, now the lone surviving original member of the band. “I’d known Andy since the 7th grade. What an impact he had on my life. He will be sorely missed.”

Hummel’s death comes during what has been a bittersweet year for the Big Star family. In the fall of 2009, the band — which reunited sans Hummel in the early ’90s — released a critically acclaimed multidisc box set and a played series of high-profile performances in London and New York. But the past 10 months have also witnessed the deaths of Big Star frontman Alex Chilton, producer Jim Dickinson, band associate Tommy Hoehn and now Hummel.

“It’s been pretty devastating” Fry said…

An interview with Hummel, from Perfect Sound Forever in 2001:

PSF: Who were your musical heroes early on?

I began listening to top 40 singles when I was in grade school. I loved surf music especially. Then along came the Beatles. I can still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first heard them. They totally blew me and everyone else away. It’s sad that so many of the younger folks interested in music these days missed that experience. The Beatles were all anyone talked about. I mean everyone, old and young, the news media, they were just the main thing happening in the world at the time. After that it was the British invasion and I loved all those bands, bought their records, etc. and just listened to Rock and Roll as much as I could. I had a little 45 record player and lots of singles.

PSF: How did you get started with music yourself?

I began studying classical piano in the third grade and continued through the ninth. I began playing in bands in the seventh. In about the eighth grade I was playing in a band in Memphis called The Chessmen. Our drummer became somewhat unreliable and our lead guitar player brought Jody over as a stand-in. He knew him from his church. That’s when I first met Jody. In the tenth grade I transferred to M.U.S., a private prep school in Memphis. Chris was a classmate and had a band called Christmas Future. They played a lot of Hendrix and Cream and stuff and just blew me away. All I had ever done was soul and white-boy punk.

When I got to the seventh grade some guys wanted to start a band. They needed a bass player. I bugged my old man until he bought me one. It was a sunburst Fender Precision bass. I took about 10 lessons at a local music store, broke the code and took off. Already having played the piano for so long once I knew which finger to put where to get the notes the rest was easy. By late in the seventh grade I was playing in the Chessmen as described above. Meanwhile I bought a cheapo creapo Sears Silvertone acoustic 6 string. The strings must be 1/2 inch off the fretboard (I still have it!). I just played it and played it. I picked out all the songs on all the records I could get…

Although Blitzen Trapper’s fifth album was just released a little over a month ago, frontman Eric Earley has already been hard at work writing the follow-up to ‘Destroyer of the Void.’

“It’s going back to my roots, what I grew up listening to and playing,” Earley tells Spinner. “A lot of the songs are about my childhood, where I grew up. They’re not as experimental, but I think it’s a lot more personal. I hesitate to say intimate, but it’s more personal, at least to me. It’s a lot more country influences, things like that.” Earley likens the new material to the laidback, nostalgic vibe of the song ‘Evening Star’ on ‘Void.’

Earley and the rest of his Blitzen Trapper gang are currently on break from touring, so he’s been able to get some solid work done. “I’m working on the record pretty heavily. I’m more caught up in this next record than releasing B-sides, but I’m sure stuff will be released at some point because there’s so many from the last couple records.”

Such is good news for fans of Blitzen Trapper, who over the last two years have tackled themes such as nature, contemplating God and suicide, starting with 2008′s ‘Furr’ and picking up again last year with 2009′s EP, ‘Black River Killer.’ While Earley didn’t expand on how the songs were actually coming together — in piecemeal fashion or not — it sounds as if he’s in the midst of a rather creative moment, so here’s hoping they can find time later this year to get back in the studio.

‘Destroyer of the Void’ is out now on Sub Pop.

Vampire Weekend have responded to being sued by the cover star of their second album ‘Contra’ by tellins us they are finding legal issues around the case “frustrating”.

The New York four-piece are being sued for $2million (£1.3million) by Kirsten Kennis, the model whose 1983 picture appears on the album that was released in January.

She claims a signature on the release form which allowed the band to use the image was forged.

Frontman Ezra Koenig said he could not go into details to how the band will respond to the lawsuit as it was the first time they had ever experienced anything like it, and they wanted to engage with the process “properly”.

“I think I can speak for all of us and say this is the first time any of us have ever been sued, so we’re still learning how it works,” explained the singer. “There’s so many things we could say about it but given we have no experience of it we’re just keeping conversations to a journal for now, which is a little frustrating.”

He added: “There’s nothing we can say about it. We’re not trying to be mysterious. I imagine in the next few months there’ll be plenty to talk about. Given it’s our first time we just want to do it properly.”

Last month, Robert Pollard sent the indie universe into a state of frothing anticipation when he announced that Guided By Voices, the heroic lo-fi power-pop band he led throughout the 90s, would reunite (in its mid-90s “classic lineup” form) to play Matador’s 21st anniversary festival in Las Vegas.

But that’s not all. As Pollard announced on his website today, that same GBV lineup will head out on a full U.S. tour this fall. Back in the day, the GBV drunken-marathon live show was truly a marvel to behold, so yes, we’re excited.

The band will actually play one show before the Vegas fest; the first scheduled GBV reunion show will now happen September 30 in Austin. The band will play some dates with fellow Ohioans Times New Viking, and a few more with Blitzen Trapper. They’ll also hit “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” on November 4, so there’s at least a remote chance that we’ll see ?uestlove play drums on “Game of Pricks”. Dates below.

Guided By Voices:

09-30 Austin, TX – East Side Drive *
10-03 Las Vegas, NV – Matador 21
10-04 Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern *
10-05 San Francisco, CA – Warfield *
10-07 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom *
10-09 Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo *
10-12 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
10-13 Chicago, IL – The Vic *
10-15 Newport, KY – Southgate House
10-16 Columbus, OH – Outlands Live
10-21 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
10-22 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
10-23 Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater
11-05 Boston, MA – Paradise ^
11-06 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero ^
11-07 New York, NY – Terminal 5 ^

* with Times New Viking
^ with Blitzen Trapper
(via pitchfork)

Admiral Fell Promises is the fourth full-length by Mark Kozelek’s alter ego Sun Kil Moon — the name he’s used since 2003. All of his records, whether they be full-band outings or completely solo like this one, carry his signature warm, slow, nocturnal vocal delivery, lending his songs an unhurried, often melancholy feel, even when he exercises his wry and ready sense of humor. Admiral Fell Promises features Kozelek accompanied only by a fingerpicked, nylon-string Spanish guitar and his voice. While he often double-tracks his vocals, the effect it creates is one of spaciousness inside his songs. Its sound is crystalline without being at all icy. These songs, no matter their musical tempo, change their interior shapes dreamily but in something akin to stop-motion photography. Given the intimacy of the presentation, they invite you into their various worlds, with guitar as both rhythmic and melodic components, and they evolve at a glacial pace: the guitar work here is especially notable. Kozelek is no small talent when it comes to playing disciplined flamenco sketches, employing them as melodies, bridges, or intros and outros in his tunes. The latter of these which closes “Half Moon Bay,” is striking for how it seemingly changes up the musical frame of the tune. Check the guitar work on “Sam Wong Hotel” which acts as another storytelling device, speaking in sharp contrast to his vocal; it signals each musical shift in this sadder-than-sad love song. Alternately, his playing also lends a sweetness that enters the stark musical landscape of his words. If songs like “Third and Seneca,” the title cut, or “Church of the Pines” (with its hints of “Norwegian Wood”) were simply strummed chord changes accompanying his lyrics, they’d be dull and depressing. Instead, they are long, moody landscape shots that eventually close in on his lyric’s concerns, offering portraits of ambiguous complexity in seemingly easy-to-define emotional transactions. “The Learning Tree” is a clear standout, because it traverses not only the interiority of the human heart, but equates its conflicting feelings with the physical landscape around it. The guitar drives the song’s protagonist ever forward in search of someone and something he may not find, even as he pushes through the rubble of the past and the desolation of his physical surroundings, and blurs into a yearning but uncertain future. It’s a love song that aches with the sincerity and confusion of prayer; especially as it changes its entire musical direction about two minutes in. Admiral Fell Promises is the simplest Sun Kil Moon album in terms of production and presentation, but the richest in terms of structural complexity, and poetic and emotional power. [The vinyl version includes liner notes and two bonus tracks recorded live in St. Malo, France. All purchases through the Caldo Verde website will receive a free, limited-edition, four-song Sun Kil Moon EP entitled I'll Be There. The EP includes covers of Stereolab, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, and the Jackson 5.]

Wired:

A new line of $55 axes by K’s Japan are built for playing — and obliterating — with Townshendian fury. The hollowed-out body and lightweight neck, crafted from maple and rosewood, make for easy swinging and shatter on impact. The company also offers a pricey $1,500 amp capable of producing a cochlea-rattling squeal when thwacked.

Switched:

After a killer set (or practice with your friends in Mom and Dad’s basement), you can smash the guitar until your heart’s content, and then, just mail the broken pieces back to K’s Japan so more guitars can be made.

We can’t speak much for the guitar’s tone. But really, who cares about sound when you can wail on an axe with a guilt-free conscience? Rock on, geeks. Check out some Japanese bands getting their anger out here.

With schizophrenic aplomb M.I.A. has unleashed her most adventurous and uncompromising album so far. It’s the sound of war, warped data, heavy machinery, politics and oppression all rolled into one coherent transmission and spat out with raps and rhymes as strong as we’d expect.

Audacious productions such as Rusko’s ‘Story To Be Told’ are an example of next level club bangers sheathed in the terror of the sounds of sophisticated sonic warfare, whilst ‘Muscle’ is the funkiest slice of sunlight to come from beneath Diplo’s studio door for some time. There’s thrash guitars rubbing up against dancehall, distorted soundscapes leading us to spaced out pop, whilst huge tracts are delightfully indescribable. Lead single ‘XXXO’ is a filthy R‘n’B Trojan Horse that thrusts two fingers up at America’s plastic pop machine and its suited executives before riding to snappy glory on her own firm terms.

Maya’s trajectory and output is now utterly unique. ‘// / Y /’ thrills with its statements and brutal treatment of sonics that will have iTunes in classification prolapse. She’s always operated on the outside of pop, yet she’s become a deft burglar of the establishment before retreating to isolation and concocting her next move. M.I.A. stands alone in her own world of pop firing out her mercurial messages, which are as complex as they are captivating. ‘// / Y /’ is a towering work that makes a mockery of rivals and genres.

It’s the Beatles, but not as we know them. A cache of previously unpublished shots of the Fab Four show them hanging out on their own doorsteps.

This collection is the work of Sue Baker, who aged 15 tracked down the stars to their own homes. She found them so welcoming that the teen fan popped back every weekend for two years, leaving with snaps of the band in laid-back mood –Ringo Starr with a cigarette in his hand, for instance — or intriguing details, such as the graffiti that Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull left on George Harrison’s wall.

Now a 59-year-old grannie, Baker is looking to auction off the photos she took between 1965 to 1967. As reported in the Mail on Sunday, the young fan originally found Paul McCartney’s home after reading a description in a Beatles magazine. He gave her the addresses for his bandmates and said, “Go and bang on their doors as well.”

So Baker looked up John Lennon and Ringo in Weybridge, Surrey, and Harrison in nearby Esher. As befits a more innocent age, members of the biggest band in the world happily chatted to fans, Baker explains. “I remember John saying that if it weren’t for people like me he wouldn’t live in such a nice house.”

The sale takes place at Cameo Specialist Auctioneers, Reading, Berkshire, Aug. 3.

A lawmaker in California wants the state to consider turning Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch into a state park. The estate was rescued in 2008 after Jackson encountered financial difficulties and was unable to maintain the mortgage for the 2,500 acre property; it is currently co-owned by the Jackson family and equity firm Colony Capital.

According to the Associated Press, California assemblyman Mike Davis may present a plan to turn the area into a park after lawmakers come back from recess. One possible roadblock: the turbulent state economy. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger previously sought to close parks due to the state’s massive deficit.

John Lydon says he turned down an offer from Damon Albarn to sing on Gorillaz’ latest album ‘Plastic Beach’, which features the likes of Mark E Smith, Shaun Ryder and Bobby Womack. The Public Image Limited and Sex Pistols man explained: “They gave me a bell but the answer was ‘no’. I really don’t want to be dabbling in other people’s gene pools”

Neu! founder member Michael Rother will headline this year’s Supersonic festival, playing in a band also featuring members of Sonic Youth and School Of Seven Bells.

Named Hallogallo 2010, the band will play the music of Neu! and Rother’s solo work at the festival which takes place at the Custard Factory in Digbeth from October 22-24.

Alongside Rother, the band also features Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Benjamin Curtis (School Of Seven Bells) and Aaron Mullan (Tall Firs).

Rother said: “We will present some favourite music by Neu!, Harmonia and from my solo albums. I look forward to Supersonic this year because two great musicians and friends are joining me in Hallogallo 2010: Steve Shelley (drummer of Sonic Youth) and Aaron Mullan (guitar player of Tall Firs). Expect some fast-forward movement!”

Swans and Godflesh are also set to headline the festival.

The line up for Supersonic so far is:

Swans
Godflesh
Hallogallo 2010
Napalm Death
People Like Us
Demons (with Sick Llama)
Ovo
Part Wild Horses Mane On Both Sides
Dosh
Tweak Bird
Drumcorps
Cave
Pcm
Jailbreak featuring Chris Corsano and Heather Leigh
Melt Banana
James Blackshaw
Lichens
Bong
Gnod
Voice Of The Seven Thunders
Necro Deathmort
Gnaw
Eagle Twin
Blue Sabbath
Black Fiji

Hallogallo 2010 also play at The Barbican in London on October 21.

Indie giants Arcade Fire will donate up to $1 million Canadian (approximately $965 million US) to the ongoing relief and rebuilding effort in Haiti. According to the New York Times, the Montreal-based group made the announcement Monday night, which marked six months since Port-au-Prince was devastated by the massive quake that killed some 200,000 people.

“Please, take our money,” frontman Win Butler reportedly said during a gig at the Quebec Summer Festival, adding that $5 donations made by fans who texted “30333″ would be matched by the band. Arcade Fire’s other lead singer, Régine Chassagne, who is also Butler’s wife, is the daughter of Haitians who left their homeland during François Duvalier’s dictatorship.

Donations will go to Kanpe, a nonprofit organization formed by Chassagne to help bring Canadian aid to Haiti’s rural poor, including healthcare and financial assistance to families displaced from the capital. Arcade Fire’s debut album boasted a song called ‘Haiti’ and the band was active in raising awareness since news of the disaster broke. Their forthcoming LP, ‘The Suburbs,’ is due Aug. 3.

M.I.A. enlists an army of clones and Suicide’s Martin Rev for “Born Free”. This is great stuff, Enjoy.

Last week in New York City following the first show of a six-week tour, Phosphorescent were faced with a missing van, full of equipment and gear totaling around $40,000. The story comes to an extraordinarily happy ending this morning as the band has just released a statement announcing the recovery of the van with ALL of their gear unharmed. Donations will be returned to all those who made contributions, while the band plans to rejoin the tour starting tomorrow night in Newport, KY.

this is insane!
the police have recovered the van
and
all of our gear is in there
and appears to be un-damaged

speechless right now,
more soon, love phos

note from label/management: we will of course return everyone’s generous donations. thanks so much for your love and support!

The legendary Flaming Lips are joining forces for a few shows with lo-fi lover Ariel Pink.

Ariel Pink recently released Haunted Graffiti as well as a collacorative 12″ EP with avant-jazzers Added Pizzazz aptly named Areil Pink With Added Pizzazz.
The Flaming Lips most recent release, Embryonic, is out now.

Tour Dates:
The Flaming Lips / Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti:

September
17 St. Louis, MO – Pageant
18 Columbia, MO – Blue Note
19 St. Paul, MN – Roy Wilkins Auditorium
21 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Burton Cummings Theatre
23 Calgary, Alberta – University of Calgary
24 Edmonton, Alberta – Events Center
26 Vancouver, British Columbia – Malkin Bowl
27 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
29 Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater

October
01 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

The Flaming Lips:

July
20 Pittsburgh, PA – Amphitheatre at Station Square $
22 Lewiston, NY – Artpark *$
23 Canandaigua, NY – Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center #$
24 Holyoke, MA – Mountain Park $
26 New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage *
27 New York, NY – Terminal 5

August
05 Alentejo, Portugal – Festival Sudoeste
08 Myslowice, Poland – OFF Festival
13 Oslo, Norway – Oya Festival
15 St. Malo, France – La Route Du Rock Festival
19 Kiewit, Belgium – Pukkelpop Festival
21 Brecon Beacons, Wales – Green Man Festival
11 Isle of Wight, England – Bestival

Ocotber
10 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits
13 St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
14 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
15 St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
16 Boca Raton, FL – Sunset Cove Amphitheatre

* with Stardeath and the White Dwarfs
$ with Fang Island
# with the Black KeysAriel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti:

July
12 Portland, OR – Doug Fir #
13 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s #
14 Vancouver, British Columbia – Biltmore #
16 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge #
17 Denver, CO – Bluebird #
19 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry #
20 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall #
21 Pontiac, MI – Pike Room #
22 Toronto, Ontario – Mod Club #
23 Montreal, Quebec – La Sala Rossa #
24 New York, NY – Irving Plaza #
25 Boston, MA – Middle East #
27 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s #
28 Washington, DC – Rock N Roll Hotel #
29 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 #
30 Atlanta, GA – Earl #
31 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree #

August
02 Denton, TX – Hailey’s #
03 Austin, TX – Mohawk #
05 Tucson, AZ – Plush #
06 San Diego, CA – Casbah #
07 Costa Mesa, CA – Detroit Bar #
04 Los Angeles, CA – FYF Fest
11 Pomona, CA – Glasshouse
12 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
14 Lubbock, TX – Foundation Room
15 Norman, OK – Opolis
16 Lawrence, KS – Jackpot
20 Fargo, ND – Aquarium
25 Victoria, British Columbia – Rifflandia Festival

# with Puro Instinct, Magic Kids

“Mmmhmm”, a standout from Flying Lotus’ BNM’ed album Cosmogramma featuring bassist Thundercat, was plenty trippy before it had a video. Now it’s extra, extra trippy. The track’s video, from directing team Special Problems, moves from a beautifully shot cosmic vision to a Super Mario Bros. parody to a neon polygonal screensaver freakout, with some other stops along the way. Good luck figuring out what it means, but this clip will make your brain feel like it’s melting.
(via pitchfork)

Mrs. Jack White performs on the Interface.

Bryan Ferry has announced plans to release a new solo album featuring star studded guest collaborations with members of Radiohead, Primal Scream, Scissor Sisters and Groove Armada.

The record, ‘Olympia’, also sees the star teaming up with Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Nile Rogers and Marcus Miller. Radiohead are represented by Jonny Greenwood and Primal Scream by Mani.

It is the first album since 1973 to reunite Ferry with members of his band Roxy Music too, including guitarist Phil Manzanera, saxophonist Andy Mackay and Brian Eno.

Roxy Music are also due to headline London’s Lovebox festival on Saturday (July 17) – see NME.COM for a full report.

The album, which is the follow-up to 2007′s ‘Dylanesque’, features eight new songs and covers of Tim Buckley’s ‘Song To the Siren’ and ’60s band Traffic’s ‘No Face, No Name, No Number’.

The LP’s first single ‘You Can Dance’ will be released on August 9, accompanied by a music video shot at Wilton’s Music Hall, before the album is released on October 25.

Ferry is currently running an art exhibition at the London International Fine Art Fair in west London’s Olympia venue, while he also the subject or Noel Fielding’s latest art collection which is currently showing in London.

The full tracklisting for ‘Olympia’ is as follows:

‘You Can Dance’
‘Alphaville’
‘Heartache By Numbers’
‘Me Oh My’
‘Shameless’
‘Song To The Siren’
‘No Face, No Name, No Number’
‘BF Bass (Ode To Olympia)’
‘Reason Or Rhyme’
‘Tender Is The Night’

Sting has completely ruled out reforming the Police again, saying 2007′s live reunion was a one-off and “purely an exercise in nostalgia.”

The singer, who reunited with original Police band members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland for the group’s 30th anniversary, now says it’s not something he feels a need to do again.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sting explained, “I had an instinct that it was the right time to realise that asset, and I was right. But it wasn’t easy … I won’t do it again. But I don’t need to. I’ve done it now.”

Sting — about to embark on a tour playing orchestral versions of his back catalogue — also commented that although the Police reunion worked at the time, he could see no future in it.

“There was nothing new in it, no new songs, no new energy, no desire to take that as a platform and move somewhere else. It was purely an exercise in nostalgia,” the singer criticised.

He also said that he had noticed, “People reacting to the Police coming back as if mum and dad had got together, you could see that emotion in the audience,” before he reasoned, “But who really wants to go and live with the wife you divorced?”

Sting, who still plays reworked versions of Police hits like ‘Roxanne’ is to tour the UK from Oct. 1, starting with two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

A new album ‘Symphonicities’, based on his orchestral rearrangements, is out on July 19.

Stereolab have been on indefinite hiatus since last year. The band’s new-ish album Not Music is coming November 16 from Drag City, featuring music recorded at the same time as their last album, 2008′s Chemical Chords. Co-leader Laetitia Sadier is also going solo, releasing her first-ever official solo album, The Trip, on September 21 via Drag City.

The Trip features collaborators like Richard Swift, April March, and Julien Gasc and Emmanuel Mario, who worked with Sadier on her former solo-project-turned-band Monade. Sadier recorded the album in two sessions in the UK and U.S., with Swift and Mario serving as producers. As well as Sadier’s own songs, the album features covers of Wendy & Bonnie’s “By the Sea” and Les Rita Mitsouko’s “Un Soir, Un Chien”. We’ve got the album’s tracklist below.

Sadier will spend October touring Europe, and we’ve got her tour dates below.

The Trip:

01 One Million Year Trip
02 Fluid Sand
03 Our Interest Are the Same
04 The Natural Child
05 Statues Can Bend
06 By the Sea
07 Unfasten
08 Un Soir, Un Chien
09 Another Monster
10 Ceci Est Le Coeur
11 Summertime
12 Release, Open Your Little Earthling Hands

Laetitia Sadier:

10-14 Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Kulturfabrik
10-15 Utrecht, Netherlands – Ekko
10-16 Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island
10-17 Berlin, Germany – Hebbel Am Ufer 2
10-18 Krakow, Poland – Unsound Festival
10-19 Vienna, Austria – Rhiz
10-20 München, Germany – Feierwerk
10-21 Turin, Italy – Spazio 211
10-22 Rome, Italy – Init Club
10-23 Bologna, Italy – Lokomotiv
10-25 Barcelona, Spain – Sidecar
10-26 Zarautz, Spain – Gazteszena
10-30 Vendôme, France – Festival Rockomotives
10-31 Paris, France – Café de la Danse
(via pfmedia)

Richard Ashcroft has said it was “inevitable” that there were inter-band tensions when The Verve reformed in 2007.

The singer, who is set to release his debut album with new project United Nations Of Sound later this month (July 19), said there was a “realness” to the Wigan band’s comeback.

“It wasn’t a marketing thing. It was much better than hanging around,” he told the Observer.

Ashcroft also discussed disappearing from the public eye over the past couple of years, saying it is “fantastic” that he is outside the mainsteam again.

“But I don’t feel on the outside when I walk the streets. I’m not on the outside to the painters, to the delivery guys, the shop assistants. I’m not on the outside to the people of England,” he remarked.

In 2008, The Verve released their fourth album ‘Forth and headlined a trio of UK festivals – Glastonbury, T In The Park and V Festival.

However, there were regular rumours of tensions and arguments, with Ashcroft describing the reformation at the time as “not some ‘Mills And Boon’ scene”.

Gallery description of David Yow’s SOLO show, via their Facebook page:

During the last few years, David has increasingly put brush to canvas and poked around with other visual media. Now, he is creating mixed media paintings as large as 6’x8’, reminiscent of the work did in school. He has also been digitally combining his line drawings with photographic textures to produce imagery that lies somewhere between photo-realism and cartoon.

The works created for this show are rooted in Yow’s personal and psychological history, and feature a broad spectrum of mediums. From acrylic, pencil, charcoal, crayon, hair, bugs, collage, and tar on wood, to line drawings digitally combined with photographic textures, Yow reveals an uncommon artistic perspective.
Echo Park’s DIY Gallery is proud to announce SOLO: the first ever one-man exhibition of paintings, collage and digital drawings by David Yow.

Alongside the exhibition, drinks will be served on the patio, where Yow’s favorite films will likely be projected (TBA). Musical performances by friends TBA will also be part of the celebration.

Jack White said he feels like “a director” when moving between his various musical projects.

Speaking in an interview with The Dead Weather, White explained that he influences each band’s feel, but said that ultimately the music takes care of itself.

“On everything, I look at myself as a producer on any project, even in this band [The Dead Weather], and I still feel like a producer, even in The White Stripes as well… or perhaps a director,” he explained.

“They just all get presented in a different way, like working with Laura Marling or Loretta Lynn, White Stripes or Dead Weather, they just have different names.

“Some come out and get called Jack White and Alicia Keys or The Raconteurs, it doesn’t really matter to me, it’s just about making those things exist. They tell you what to do. It’s about paying attention to what the music wants.”

Priapic horn-dogs Grinderman have unveiled the tracklisting and artwork for their forthcoming album, the imaginatively entitled, ‘Grinderman 2.’ The side-project of Bad Seeds frontman Nick Cave and cohorts Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos, the album is set for release on Sept. 13 in the UK and Europe and the following day in the North America.

The album’s release is set to to be preceded by its first single, ‘Heathen Child,’ on Aug. 30.

The band have issued a couple of video teasers ahead of the album’s release, and the latest features an animation of the band busting the kind of disco moves that would make John Travolta blush (watch after the jump) ,while the music suggests the band are still pursuing the raw, garage of their eponymous debut album.

The tracklisiting for ‘Grinderman 2′ is:
‘Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man’
‘Worm Tamer’
‘Heathen Child’
‘When My Baby Comes’
‘What I Know’
‘Evil’
‘Kitchenette’
‘Palaces of Montezuma’
‘Bellringer Blues’

Undercover:

New York art-rock legends Swans confirm details for their first album in 13 years….

In January of this year the myspace named ‘swansaredead’ announced “Swans are not dead!” as Gira and Jarboe restarted the machine to release their twelfth studio album.:

Their latest effort to test listeners’ patience will be an eight track opus called My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky, released on September 21 on the band’s Young God Records.

After achieving their cult status, it seems Swans can now command more famous collaborators. This album will feature guests spots from Devendra Banhart and Mercury Rev’s Grasshopper.

Quietus:

My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky will be released on September 20. Gira said: “THIS IS NOT A REUNION. It’s not some dumb-ass nostalgia act. It is not repeating the past. After 5 Angels Of Light albums, I needed a way to move FORWARD, in a new direction, and it just so happens that reviving the idea of Swans is allowing me to do that.”

The tracklisting for the album is as follows:

‘No Words/ No Thoughts’

‘Reeling The Liars In’

‘Jim’

‘My Birth’

‘You Fucking People Make Me Sick’

‘Inside Madeline’

‘Eden Prison’

‘Little Mouth’
(via daily swarm)

Perennially underrated during OutKast’s heyday, Big Boi has seen his profile dip further in the four years since the duo’s last release. Now safely landed on a new label after an extended stay in industry limbo, the Atlanta rapper is back with a stunningly realized solo debut, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.

The pressure to swing for surefire pop hits after all those delays must have been immense. Instead, Big Boi summons the restless risk-taking spirit of OutKast’s most essential work, yielding a richer set than his half of their 2003 double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. Ready with a nimble flow no matter the backdrop, he touts his high-flying party life over bombastic opera (”General Patton”), chrome-bright electro (”Shutterbugg”), wiggly funk (”Follow Us”), and anything else that comes his way. Guest verses and hooks from stylistic heirs like Janelle Monáe, T.I., and Gucci Mane enhance the disc’s contemporary cred but never outshine its central star.

OutKast’s Andre 3000, meanwhile, appears only as a producer (the vertebrae-rattling ”You Ain’t No DJ”), reportedly due to further music-biz mishegoss. It’s a regrettable absence. But the fact that this album

The Beatles’ record label Apple has relented in its face-off with iTunes — but only when it comes to back-catalogue excluding the works of Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison.

The label and parent company Apple Corps have had long-running legal battles including a trademark dispute with Apple Inc, the owner of iTunes, but hostilities were halted in February 2007.

Now, Apple Records is to re-issue 15 of its re-mastered albums on iTunes, as well as physically on CD.

The BBC reports that the remastered albums, which will include Mary Hopkin’s ‘Post Card,’ Sir John Tavener’s ‘The Whale’ and Badfinger’s ‘No Dice,’ will be released on Oct. 25.

It’s the nearest yet to a digital release of Beatles material — tantalisingly, Hopkin’s ‘Post Card, which includes the 1968 hit ‘Those Were the Days,’ was produced by Sir Paul and he plays on another re-release, James Taylor’s self-titled debut.

Earlier this year, Sir Paul said the Beatles tracks would be available for download at some point.

He told BBC Radio 1′s Newsbeat, “To tell you the truth, I don’t actually understand how it’s got so crazy. I know iTunes would like to do it, so one day it’s going to happen.”

The Beatles launched their label in 1968, and as well as releasing their own material on it, signed more than 20 other artists who they admired.

The full list of re-releases is as follows:
James Taylor – ‘James Taylor’ (1968)
Badfinger – ‘Magic Christian Music’ (1970)
Badfinger – ‘No Dice’ (1970)
Badfinger – ‘Straight Up’ (1972)
Badfinger – ‘Ass’ (1974)
Mary Hopkin – ‘Post Card’ (1969)
Mary Hopkin – ‘Earth Song, Ocean Song’ (1971)
Billy Preston – ‘That’s the Way God Planned It’ (1969)
Billy Preston – ‘Encouraging Words’ (1970)
Doris Troy – ‘Doris Troy’ (1970)
Jackie Lomax – ‘Is This What You Want?’ (1968)
Modern Jazz Quartet – ‘Under the Jasmin Tree’ (1968)
Modern Jazz Quartet – ‘Space’ (1969)
John Tavener – ‘The Whale’ (1970)
John Tavener – ‘Celtic Requiem’ (1971)

When I interviewed Ted Leo before the release of The Brutalist Bricks earlier this year, he seemed a bit apprehensive — yet guardedly optimistic — about his future in music. Yes, the thought of retiring from life as a full-time musician was looming, but it wasn’t imminent. However, that seems to have changed in the intervening months.

In a recent interview with Joseph Lord of Louisville’s Velocity (the story is only in print at this point), Leo seems to have pretty much decided that 2010 will be his last of making music as a livelihood. He just doesn’t see it as a sustainable model for himself and the Pharmacists — and drooping record sales (which was also a theme of my chat) is the driving factor in the decision. Per Leo:

People don’t think record sales matter to musicians. If you’re selling less than 10,000 records, it probably doesn’t matter. And if you’re selling more than 100,000 records, it probably doesn’t matter. But if you’re selling somewhere in the middle, it can make a huge difference.

It’s a losing proposition for us at this point. It’s something we can’t keep doing. It’s a simple, unfortunate fact. In our particular case, it is totally tied to a downturn in record sales.

And while some of his talk seemed to hint at part-time rock and roll antics in 2011 and beyond, other statements were much more foreboding and worrisome.

I’m going to be totally honest with you. By next year, there’s no way I’m going to be able to be on tour like I have been these last few years. There’s no way I’m going to be able to keep writing and recording and playing music.
(via buzz grinder)

Mark Ronson has revealed that he and Amy Winehouse have recorded a cover of Lesley Gore’s 1963 song ‘It’s My Party’.

The pair started working on the song in 2008, with the track set to appear on a forthcoming tribute album to legendary producer . It was Jones’ first hit single as a producer, and a version by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin topped the UK charts in 1981.

A release date for the album is yet to be set.

Ronson told BBC Newsbeat that Winehouse “sounds brilliant on it”.

He added: “It’s quite funny to come off of my album where the whole tag line, or thing we told ourselves, was no covers, no horns and then to do a very Amy-sounding record like that.”

Usher and Mariah Carey are rumoured to be appearing on the Jones tribute album too.

Ronson’s next solo album ‘Record Collection’ will be released as Mark Ronson And The Business INTL. in September.

Never one to sit around when there’s work to be done, Nick Cave has announced a schedule that encompasses his skills as a songwriter, performer, author and screenwriter — and one that’s set to bring his latest literary creation, Bunny Munro, to life.

Speaking at the Dundee Literary Festival, Cave confirmed that actor Ray Winstone is set to play the eponymous character whose life slowly and graphically unravels after the suicide of his long-suffering wife. “The idea was that we set him up as a hard guy and then bit by bit dismantle him to show that he’s a quivering wreck underneath it all,” Cave told Empire.

Cave’s second novel, ‘The Death of Bunny Munro,’ originally began life as a screenplay before morphing into a book after the concept fell by the wayside. “[Ray] really loved the script when we first handed it to him,” says Cave. “He was really excited about it, and really distressed when it kinda tanked and never got made.”

John Hillcoat, who directed Winstone in the Cave-scripted drama ‘The Proposition,’ is set to helm the film which is to be made for television.

All this comes hot on the heels of the return of Cave’s side-project band, Grinderman, whose second album is scheduled for release this autumn with a European tour to follow. And if all that wasn’t enough, UNKLE mailman Pablo Clements told BBC 6 Music that Cave is to contribute vocals to a new track for the collective’s forthcoming album which he described as a “glam stomper.”

Nick Cave in glitter make-up and stack heels? Why not? Clearly, there’s little that’s out of reach for this ever-stretching artist.

Billboard:
Prince has given what has been billed as his first U.K. newspaper interview in a decade as part of a deal for his new album, “20Ten.”

The Daily Mirror will give the album away July 10 as a free CD with the paper, while European deals have also been struck with Rolling Stone Germany and a Belgian newspaper…

Prince does not intend “20Ten” to get a download release in addition to the free CD distribution with newspapers and magazines. He has also shut down his official website and does not license music he controls to download stores or subscription services.

Daily Mirror:
Unlike most other rock stars, he has banned YouTube and iTunes from using any of his music and has even closed down his own official website.

He says: “The internet’s completely over. I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it.

“The internet’s like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good.

“They just fill your head with numbers and that can’t be good for you.”

For our mid year check in, Kingblind.com proudly presents the Top 10 singles of 2010 (So Far). Our Top 15 Albums of the year will be out in December. Enjoy the list!
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SLEIGH BELLS- TELL EM’

VAMPIRE WEEKEND- COUSINS

Gorillaz – Rhinestone Eyes

Black Keys- Tighten up

Big Boi- Shutterbug

LCD Soundsystem – Drunk Girls

Spoon – “Written in Reverse”

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Bright Lit Blue Skies”

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings “I Learned the Hard Way”

Best Coast “When I’m With You”

The BBC Trust has opted to save BBC 6Music from closure, following an initial investigation into the digital future of the corporation.

BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons set out the first findings of the Trust’s Strategy Review today (July 5), available to view at BBC.co.uk. The report’s conclusions at present say that 6Music’s future is assured, although it adds that if the BBC’s stance on digital radio was to change, then further reappraisal could be still be sought.

“The Trust concludes that, as things stand, the case has not been made for the closure of 6Music. The Executive should draw up an overarching strategy for digital radio,” they wrote. “If the Director General wanted to propose a different shape for the BBC’s music radio stations as part of a new strategy, the Trust would consider it.”

However, the fate of the Asian Network still hangs in the balance, according to the report.

It states: “The Trust would consider a formal proposal for the closure of the Asian Network, although this must include a proposition for meeting the needs of the station’s audience in different ways.”

The interim conclusions will be followed by a final report to be published by the Trust in the autumn.

Both stations were initially threatened with closure in March.

Julian Casablancas has predicted that The Strokes’ next album will be released in March 2011.

The singer said the album, which his other Strokes bandmates have been recording without him, is “almost halfway done” at present.

The band’s drummer Fab Moretti had previously hoped the follow-up to 2006′s ‘First Impressions Of Earth’ might be released this year.

He told BBC 6Music: “We’ve wanted to do it for months, or maybe a year now, and then we keep thinking ‘OK, we’ll do it for like these three weeks and we’ll be done’. Then we do it and we decide we’re not done, or something comes in the way.”

Asked whether he preferred playing with his solo band or with The Strokes, Casablancas remained coy.

He said: “That is a tough question because if I say this [my solo band] then I’d probably be hurting people in The Strokes’ feelings, so I’m not gonna say that. I can’t answer. I’m sorry. I want to, but I can’t. Does it matter with people if I said that?”

The singer went on to state that he thinks playing solo is “liberating”, before admitting that his loyalties are split.

“I hate it when bands break up and never play again. I’m kind of split two ways now,” he commented. “I feel like my new [solo] thing is in more ways like The Strokes’ old thing was. And the new Strokes thing is something that I hope works and I hope everyone loves and makes everyone happy.”

Asked whether he thought this was the last shot for The Strokes, Casablancas said: “Honestly, I don’t know. One record at a time.”

Despite the apparent confusion, Casablancas confirmed that finishing The Strokes album is his priority, though he also wants to release more solo material.

“The first thing is The Strokes thing. Like I said I’m kind of split now, I’ll do other things,” he explained. “If I have an idea for something that I know head to toe, I’ll probably do it on my own, and when I have kind of looser stuff I’ll probably bring it to The Strokes. But right now we’re just trying to finish this record, so lets see how this goes. Let’s make sure no one tries to stab me or something.”

The frontman also confirmed that the new Strokes album remains untitled at present, though he joked that he had a couple of titles in mind. “How about ‘Brothers’? Or ‘Buddies’?” he said.

If Green Day can write a rock opera and bring it to stage, there’s no reason to think Black Francis can’t. As Slicing Up Eyeballs reports, a stage production based on Francis’ 2007 release ‘Bluefinger’ is set to premiere on Nov. 12 in Houston, Texas via the Catastrophic Theatre. For those unfamiliar, the album is about Dutch musician/artist Herman Brood, who took his own life in 2001, after years battling depression, drugs and alcohol and is considered to be one of the Netherlands’ most influential rock and rollers.

The idea to bringing this record to stage spawned from Pixies biographer Josh Frank, Francis and Catastrophic director, Jason Nodler. Such will make for a busy fall for Francis — he recently released his 16th solo album, ‘NonStopErotik,’ under his and has announced a string of solo dates, including three dates supporting the Swell Season in August. If that’s not enough, he’s also gearing up to release a B-Sides collection called ‘Abbabubba’ — due sometime this summer, according to Blackfrancis.net — and spent time producing Pete Yorn’s new self-titled album, out this fall as well.

And then of course, there’s his duties with the Pixies, who are bringing their ‘Doolittle’ tour to 11 US cities this fall, starting Sept. 7 in Philadelphia. The band’s been performing the album and its B-sides in full since fall 2009. Thus, knowing Francis’ tireless work ethic, we’re pretty sure he’ll be on hand when ‘Bluefinger’ debuts.

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Wolf Parade fans, prepare to take sides. In this corner we have Sunset Rubdown frontman Spencer Krug, with his warbling voice, fantasyland lyrics and unconventional approach to melody. In the other corner, Dan Boeckner, the singer/guitarist of the beloved Handsome Furs, delivers straight-up rock with an undeniable hook always waiting around the corner.

Expo 86 feels divided down the middle, and both writers deliver some of their best work to date. Krug’s What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had to Go This Way) is off-kilter and danceable, with a Talking Heads-like chorus, while Boeckner kills it on Yulia and Little Golden Age. Then there’s the X factor, guitarist Dante DeCaro. His parts shine through much as they did when he propelled Hot Hot Heat in their now-ignored halcyon days. This is recommended stuff, get it while it’s hot..

Yesterday afternoon, the music industry consulting firm Milk Money posted the following on their Twitter: “Deerhunter here in Maze with Ben Allen mixing new LP. Everybody’s excited about the sound.”

The Ben Allen in question is the guy who engineered and mixed Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion and Fall Be Kind EP, helping that band reach new levels of bass-heavy blissout. He also worked on Gnarls Barkley’s St. Elsewhere. (Maze is Allen’s studio.) We don’t have any further details yet, but that already seems like plenty of reason to get amped.
(via pfmedia)

Guided By Voices, the classic indie rock band from Dayton, Ohio formed by prolific songwriter and lead singer Robert Pollard in 1983, is reuniting its “classic ’93 – ’96 lineup” for Matador Records’ 21st birthday party in Las Vegas, NV. According to sources, additional dates in other cities will be announced soon.

The classic GBV lineup is generally considered to include Pollard, guitarists Tobin Sprout and Mitch Mitchell, bassist Greg Demos and drummer Kevin Fennell. The lineup imploded around the time of the release of its 1997 album “Mag Earwhig!” Demos and Fennell have kept a very low profile in recent years.

Matador Records, the independent record label that was founded in New York in 1989, is celebrating its 21st anniversary with a three night series of concerts in Las Vegas on Oct. 1-3.

Many of the artists already confirmed for the weekend are indie rock stalwarts, including Pavement, Sonic Youth, Belle & Sebastian, Spoon, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and the New Pornographers. Guided By Voices signed to Matador and released several albums on the label.

The three day event will take place at the Palms Casino & Resort In Las Vegas, NV. The full lineup and details about booking tickets and travel will be announced on Monday, July 5.

Other artists already confirmed include Superchunk, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Guitar Wolf, Chavez, Girls, Fucked Up, Harlem, Cold Cave, Shearwater, Kurt Vile and Jeffrey Joe Jensen.

John Lennon’s solo albums have been remastered to mark the late singer’s 70th birthday.

Yoko Ono and a team of engineers led by Allan Rouse at London’s Abbey Road Studios and by George Marino at New York’s Avatar Studios have helped re-work all eight of his albums and several newly-compiled titles.

“In this very special year, which would have seen my husband and life partner John reach the age of 70, I hope that this remastering/reissue programme will help bring his incredible music to a whole new audience,” Ono said.

“By remastering 121 tracks spanning his solo career, I hope also that those who are already familiar with John’s work will find renewed inspiration from his incredible gifts as a songwriter, musician and vocalist and from his power as a commentator on the human condition. His lyrics are as relevant today as they were when they were first written.”

All of the remastered albums and collections will be available on CD and for download around the time of Lennon’s birthday on October 9. For more information go to JohnLennon.com.

Lots of bands play “The Colbert Report” nowadays, but only a select few hit “The Daily Show”. As their Twitter points out, Arcade Fire will join that elite list when they hit Jon Stewart’s stage August 12, about a week after their new album, The Suburbs, hits shelves both actual and digital. You probably can’t set your DVR that far ahead right now, but maybe write a note to yourself to set your DVR and try not to forget where you put it.. ok?

Wavves perform “Super Soaker” on Sirius XMU. The song is very Jay Reatard-ish which is understandable, given the addition of Reatard’s old rhythm section to the band. Still a pretty great song. Enjoy!

‘Lords Of The Rings’ actor Elijah Wood has enlisted the help of Sonic Youth, the Soft Pack and more to appear on a special charity compilation, reports NME. The album, titled ‘Elysium: A Benefit For The Art Of Elysium,’ aims to raise money for The Art Of Elysium charity, who encourage artists and performers to dedicate their time and talent to help children suffering from serious medical conditions.

Elijah Wood’s been a long time supporter of The Art of Elysium, whilst other celebrities involved with the charity include fellow actors Joaquin Phoenix and Kirsten Dunst — the latter was honoured for her work with them earlier this year. Writing on the charity’s website, Wood wrote “it’s important to support this charity. I’ve experienced first-hand what they do; spending time with children, taking part in these art projects…I just think it’s wonderful.” He’s also no stranger to releasing music; he set up record label Simian Records in 2007 and from that has put out albums including the Apples in Stereo’s recent LP ‘Travellers in Space and Time.’

As well as Sonic Youth — who contribute ‘No Way’ from last year’s ‘The Eternal’ — and The Soft Pack, breakthrough artists including Sleigh Bells, Music Go Music and White Denim appear on the album. Available to purchase from iTunes, you can find more information from the charity’s website. The full tracklist is as follows:

Black Mountain — ‘Tyrants’
The Kills — ‘Tape Song’
Sleigh Bells — ‘Infinity Guitars’
Grass Window — ‘Rattled Call’
Music Go Music — ‘Reach Out’
Jeremy Jay — ‘Beautiful Dreamer’
Sleepy Sun — ‘New Age’
Wolf People — ‘October Fires’
The Golden Dogs — ‘Permanent Record’
Oh No Ono — ‘Internet Warrior’
Sonic Youth — ‘No Way’
White Denim — ‘Yo-Yo’
Malachai — ‘Here It Comes’
Cave — ‘Made in Malaysia’
Ty Segall — ‘Caesar’
Balaclavas — ‘Up the Newel’
Earthless — ‘Jull’
Sweet Apple — ‘Do You Remember’
The Soft Pack — ‘Answer to Yourself’
Stardeath & White Dwarves — ‘New Heat’