Alegranza By El Guincho Due In Stores In October 14 Aug 2008

"Like M.I.A.'s hippie boyfriend, collagist du jour Pablo Diaz-Reixa airlifts you into a block-party DMZ where voices exult, steel drums ping, rhythms rumble, and synths ricochet."    Spin

We are excited to announce  that El Guincho's album, Alegranza, will be released by the Young Turks label on Tuesday, October 7.

Dee-Lite may have sung about the global village and the age of communication back in 1990, but it's taken until the 21st century for that dream to become a reality in music. Now the new world music has arrived and nobody presents it better than 24 year old Pablo Diaz-Reixa – aka El Guincho – a musician based in Barcelona and raised in the Canary Islands, who feeds traditional island song, African rhythms and sampled psychedelics through an MPC to create something entirely new.

“Palmitos Park,” the first single from the album, gets the party started with an infectious Spanish chorus, male harmonies and the sounds of a village cheering and celebrating. Then there's the rustic rave of “Cuando Maavilla Fui,” with its pulsating peasant chanting, as if to raise the dead. “Buenos Matrimonios Ahi Fuera” breezes the sounds of offshore winds and tinkling percussion through childlike playground choruses. And when “Fata Morgana” begins, it's as if somebody is opening the curtains onto the glorious technicolor of 1970s sunshine, with wonky old analogue synths that warp in the heat.

Customs officers round the world have been baffled by the man who travels with computers and broken bits of planks to play live shows where he controls the pile of equipment with his elbows. When you hear the record, you might be baffled too. But then you'll want to play it again and again.

US tour dates are in the works!! 



"An exultant one-man carnival of sound" - Uncut

Barcelona’s El Guincho is the kind of guy who could never be in a band – his ideas are so meticulous and rich they’d be impossible to explain to a cloth-eared drummer.     NME

"Alegranza! is a unique, exotic thrill from beginning to end" - Uncut

"Music that makes you feel like you've entered a higher state of consciousness" - Dazed & Confused

"A one man festival" - The Observer

BASIA BULAT CONFIRMS SEPTEMBER DATES IN THE U.S. 13 Aug 2008

“(‘In The Night’) is one of 2008’s great singles.”    NPR

“(Basia Bulat) writes acoustic-guitar-based folk songs built around dramatic crests that highlight her trembling voice.”             Rolling Stone

“…her backwoodsy chamber pop boasts dazzling potential.”   Paste


BASIA  BULAT CONFIRMS  SEPTEMBER  DATES IN THE U.S.
Shortlisted For Canada’s Polaris Prize
Headlining show at NYC’s Highline Ballroom on September 19

In support of her debut album Oh, My Darling (Rough Trade Records), Basia Bulat has confirmed a short US tour this September.   The first date is in Louisville, KY on September 11 and the tour winds up on the 20th of the month in Cambridge, MA.    She will be headlining The Highline Ballroom in New York City on September 19.

Since the release of Oh, My Darling, Bulat and her band have been crisscrossing the US touring on their own and with the likes of DeVotchKa and St. Vincent earning the admiration of fans and critics along the way.     The admiration is no less in her home country of   Canada where she was recently shortlisted for this year’s Polaris Prize (the winner will be announced on September 29).  

Since the age of three, Basia has been sitting on piano stools and trying to hammer things out. It started with her piano-teacher mum, but along the way Basia’s picked up guitar, autoharp, banjo, ukulele, sax and flute. In high school her instrument was the upright bass – a lone girl among “eight-foot-tall guys in the back of the orchestra, goofing off with the tubas”. There’s a sense of play that still suffuses her music, jostling under the songs of regret and love, want and joy.

In the summer of 2006, Basia went to live in Montreal. Through friends she met Howard Bilerman, an engineer and co-owner of the famed Hotel 2 Tango studio. Basia cashed some student loans to record with Bilerman.  It was ultimately these rough early takes, hoarse with excitement that formed the bulk of Oh, My Darling. Despite the original intention, these tracks are breathless, thirsty, dislodged from dreary nostalgia. There are strings, yes, and acoustic guitar, but also a frantic drum-kit gallop; the influence of the spirits of wild Jeff Magnum, big-voiced Odetta, Emily Dickinson and all those boisterous soul-music singles. It’s this spark that sets Basia Bulat apart from the raft of typical singer-songwriters.

Click here for the tour dates

FREE Blonde Redhead show THIS THURSDAY in NYC! 12 Aug 2008

Blonde Redhead is playing on Thursday at Pier 54 at 14th Street. Go here for all the details!

The Mountain Goats solo set just added to Folks Festival Lineup! 11 Aug 2008

Colorado has more than the convention coming up.  That's right, this just in: the 18th Annual Folks Festival (in Lyons, CO) has just added a solo performance by The Mountain Goats (John Darnielle) to its lineup!  He is scheduled to play from 2:15pm - 3:30pm on Sunday, the 17th.

The festival runs from August 15th - August 17th, and will also feature performances by KT Tunstall, Amos Lee and a slew of others.

The full lineup and more info about the 18th Annual Folks Festival
can be found here: http://www.bluegrass.com/folks/lineup.html

THE NATIONAL kicks ass and takes names 08 Aug 2008

The National had a whirlwind week last week.

They played Lollapalooza, and did an interview with SPIN that you can watch here.
Matt talks about the old days of playing the Mercury Lounge as the first of five bands, dentistry, Scandinavia, touring with REM, future plans and MORE!

He also talks about playing CENTRAL PARK SUMMERSTAGE, which they did this past monday, to a sold out crowd of over 5,000 people!

You can read about that and see photos here.

The day after summerstage, they had a 5am call to fly to Norway!

Don't forget to check out their Obama shirts! All proceeds to the Obama campaign.

THE VEILS Fall U.S. Tour!!! 06 Aug 2008

The Veils are a London based quartet (with ties to Oklahoma City!) who will be coming back to our shores this fall for a slew of dates supporting Liam Finn!!! They'll be playing new songs from the currently untitled (working title: LOL) follow up to last year's critically acclaimed Nux Vomica released by Rough Trade.

Finn Andrews weathered many false starts with various line ups in earlier incarnations of the band. The Veils are now comprised of singer/guitarist Finn Andrews, Sophia Burn (bass), Henning Dietz (drums) and Dan Raishbrook (guitar and noize-wiv-a-Z).

Re: Oklahoma. Amidst a slew of dates from coast to coast, they found time to become Oklahoma City locals for three months, wrestle snakes, find a ghost town, lose their innocence, and document it all in a much loved tour diary, sections of which, including "The Bit Where Henning Totals a Segway" are currently being made into a MAJOR motion picture starring Billy Zane, Alan Cumming, and a bawling toddler named "Hero."

Check out the video for their song "Calliope" off their last album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24rEZS4pD3s


http://www.myspace.com/theveils
http://WWW.THEVEILS.COM/

The Veils Fall Tour Dates

THU - 9/4/2008 NEW YORK, NY Bowery Ballroom
FRI - 9/5/2008 PHILADELPHIA, PA World Café Live
SAT - 9/6/2008 WASHINGTON, DC The Rock and Roll Hotel
SUN - 9/7/2008 CHAPEL HILL, NC Local 506
TUE - 9/9/2008 NASHVILLE, TN Mercy Lounge
WED - 9/10/2008 MEMPHIS, TN Hi Tone
THU - 9/11/2008 ST. LOUIS, MO Billiken Club @ St. Louis University
SAT - 9/13/2008 DENVER, CO Monolith Festival
TUE - 9/16/2008 SANTA FE, NM Santa fe Brewing Co.
THU - 9/18/2008 TUCSON, AZ Plush
FRI - 9/19/2008 SAN DIEGO, CA Casbah
SAT - 9/20/2008 LOS ANGELES, CA Echoplex
SUN - 9/21/2008 LAS VEGAS, NV Beauty Bar
TUE - 9/23/2008 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Bottom of the Hill
WED - 9/24/2008 PORTLAND, OR Doug Fir Lounge
FRI - 9/26/2008 SEATTLE, WA High Dive
SAT - 9/27/2008 VANCOUVER, BC Biltmore Cabaret
WED - 10/1/2008 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 7th Street Entry
THU - 10/2/2008 CHICAGO, IL Lakeshore Theater
FRI - 10/3/2008 CLEVELAND, OH Grog Shop
SAT - 10/4/2008 TORONTO, ON E l Mocambo
SUN - 10/5/2008 MONTREAL, QC La Sala Rossa (Pop Montreal)
TUE - 10/7/2008 BOSTON, MA Paradise
WED - 10/8/2008 PORTLAND, ME Space Gallery
THU - 10/9/2008 NORTHAMPTON, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
FRI - 10/10/2008 PROVIDENCE, RI Club Hell

Victoria Bergsman in New York! DJ set! Live in Brooklyn! 06 Aug 2008

new Vampire Weekend single & video! 05 Aug 2008

VAMPIRE WEEKEND COLLABORATE WITH DIRECTOR
RICHARD AYOADE ON NEW VIDEO
 
Vampire Weekend will release a new digital single “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” on August 19th on XL Recordings.
 
The track is accompanied by a stunning Richard Ayoade-directed video that sees the New York quartet releasing their inner goth. Ayoade, a rapidly rising star of British comedy writing and acting, is famed for his work on hit UK TV series such as The Mighty Boosh, Nathan Barley and the IT Crowd. His music resume also includes videos for The Arctic Monkeys' “Fluorescent Adolescent”, The Last Shadowpuppets' “Standing Next To Me” and Super Furry Animals' “Run Away”, as well as Vampire Weekend's last single “Oxford Comma”.

Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHl9qRsMzw
 
Meanwhile, 2008 continues to see Vampire Weekend going from strength to strength. With their critically-acclaimed, eponymous debut album having racked up over half a million worldwide sales, not to mention performances on Letterman, Kimmel and SNL AND the landing on the cover of SPIN, Vampire Weekend are one of the must see bands of the summer. They’ve had amazingly triumphant sets at Pitchfork Festival and Bonnaroo, plus a totally full 5,000 capacity show New York’s Central Park Summerstage. The band will hit the road in the US once again this fall, including three more festival dates.
 
US TOUR DATES:
9/5    Portland, OR        Crystal Ballroom
9/9    Louisville, KY    Headliners
9/10    St.Louis, MO        The Pageant
9/11    Lawrence, KS    Liberty Hall
9/13    Morrison, CO        Red Rocks Amphitheater
9/15    Las Vegas, NV    The Joint
9/16    Pomona, CA        The Glasshouse
9/17    Los Angeles, CA    The Wiltern
9/18    Los Angeles, CA    The Wiltern
9/19    San Diego, CA    Street Scene Festival
9/21    San Francisco, CA     Treasure Island Festival
9/23    Tucson, AZ        Rialto Theater
9/24    Tempe, AZ        Marquee Theater
9/26    Austin, TX        Austin City Limits Festival

Friendly Fires On Tour! 25 Jul 2008

The UK's very own Friendly Fires are kicking off their mini US tour tonight!
They'll be starting things off in Philly, swinging through NYC and wrapping up in LA.
Catch them while you can!

While you're at it, be sure to check out the band's lovely new website.
And, as we're feeling extra friendly, you can now download the track "Jump In The Pool" here !!

The Guys From Gorillaz Are Now Monkey 22 Jul 2008

Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett Present
MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST
ALBUM TO BE RELEASED THIS FALL ON XL RECORDINGS
Monkey: Journey To The West The Opera July 23 London Premiere At The Royal Opera House

JOURNEY TO THE WEST, an album conceived and created by Damon Albarn (music) and Jamie Hewlett (visuals)  under the guise of MONKEY, will be released in North America this fall by XL Recordings.

Created by the GORILLAZ team of Albarn and  Hewlett, JOURNEY TO THE WEST is performed by an assortment of European and Chinese musicians and singers and was produced by Albarn. The album's packaging  does likewise, moving beyond the stunning design of the opera MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST and exploring to the fullest its characters, storylines, themes and inspirations.

MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST, the opera upon which the album is based, makes its London Premiere July 23 at the  Royal Opera House. A singular and unique fusion of traditional mandarin opera/folklore and modern audiovisual interpretation, MONKEY... is the result of director Chen Shi-Zheng having enlisted GORILLAZ masterminds Albarn and Hewlett to provide unique, modern musical and visual interpretations of the themes and characters of this most beloved work of Chinese folklore.  The live production utilizes nearly 40 Chinese circus acrobats, martial artists and singers from China and an orchestra of Western and traditional Chinese instruments.

MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST is performed in Mandarin with subtitles, its storyline chronicling the Monkey King's journey to enlightenment as it takes him undersea, to decadent banquets in heaven, through encounters with Spider Maidens and Skeleton Demons, and eventually to paradise. The album, which was recorded in London and Beijing over the last year, follows this narrative, opening with "Monkey's World," proceeding to a "Heavenly Peach Banquet," enduring a "Battle In Heaven," encountering "The White Skeleton Demon" and so on, all the way through to the finale' of "Disappearing Volcano."

The album runs 50 minutes and consists of 22 instrumental and vocal tracks. The full track listing is:
1.      Monkey's World
2.      Monkey Travels
3.      Into the Eastern Sea
4.      The Living Sea
5.      The Dragon King
6.      Iron Rod
7.      Out of the Eastern Sea
8.      Heavenly Peach Banquet
9.     Battle in Heaven
10.     O Mi To Fu
11.    Whisper
12.     Tripitaka's Curse
13.     Confessions of a Pig
14.     Sandy the River Demon
15.     March of the Volunteers         
16.     The White Skeleton Demon   
17.     Monk's Song 
18.     I Love Buddha 
19.     March of the Iron Army
20.     Pigsy in Space
21.     Monkey Bee  
22.     Disappearing Volcano

Standard digital and physical formats have been licensed to XL Recordings for world-wide release.  A box set edition containing vinyl and artwork has been created by Vinyl Factory Ltd, and will be available from www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com.

Ratatat joins the big leagues and enters the Billboard Top 200 16 Jul 2008

We are pleased to let everyone know that Ratatat have cracked the Billboard chart for the first time.  Their brand-spanking new album, LP3, was released last week and entered the top 200 today at #82!   Whoo hoo! 

If you missed their recent mini-tour (sold out shows on both coasts) do not despair - Ratatat will be back for a full US tour in late August going into September.  

LP3 on the Billboard Charts:

#82 Top 200

#2 Electronic Album

#4 Indie

#15 Digital

Congrats To A Couple Of Our Canadian Artists! 08 Jul 2008

Canada day may officially take place on July 1 but for us at the Beggars Group USA office this year we're going to celebrate it this week. Why? Two of our artists - Basia Bulat and Holy Fuck - have been nominated for the Polaris Prize. Basia for her album Oh, My Darling and Holy Fuck for their album LP. The long list had 40 potential winners and yesterday, July 7, the list was pared down to just 10.

The Polaris Prize is Canada's equivalent to Britain's esteemed Mercury Prize.

Who is going to get bragging rights and the fat $20,000** check? We all have to wait until September 29 when the winner will be announced at a special ceremony in Toronto.

More info on the Polaris Prize

** Canadian dollars we assume!

4AD welcomes DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES! 07 Jul 2008

DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES joins the 4AD roster!

Hear the title track: "In Ear Park"

4AD is pleased to announce the signing of DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES. The band is excited to release In Ear Park via 4AD on October 7th, 2008.

Department of Eagles features Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear and his friend Fred Nicolaus, plus additional help from two other members of Grizzly Bear, Chris Taylor and Chris Bear.

Daniel and Fred met in 2000 at NYU when forced to be roommates, and began making music together to pass the time during an uneventful spring semester. They collected samples and turned them into songs using computers and a microphone borrowed from their neighbor Chris Taylor (who, years later would become Daniel’s Grizzly Bear bandmate and DoE’s producer/engineer). The material they wrote during this time became their 2003 debut The Cold Nose, which brought them a small but enthusiastic audience and critical praise.
 
In 2004 Daniel joined Grizzly Bear, playing guitar, singing, and writing a good portion of their sophomore album, Yellow House not to mention extensive touring. Fred descended deeper into the square existence, holding down a number of jobs and opening a savings account. 

Throughout all of this, the two continued writing together whenever possible, resulting in a new batch of songs that comprise In Ear Park, an album that took roughly four years to complete.

About how songs made it to this record, as opposed to a Grizzly Bear one, Daniel says "In Ear Park has been in the making in one form or another for several years now, on and off tour and after work. A lot of these songs felt way too personal to bring to Grizzly Bear-- there's a lot of childhood nostalgia and an emphasis on more concise songwriting. Fred and I had license to try some things that I could never get away with otherwise, but we still went for the lushness and and attention to sonic detail that Chris and I always want out of a recording. I'm excited. "

In Ear Park was recorded in Brooklyn, NY by Chris Taylor. It features 11 tracks, and the title track “In Ear Park” is available for mp3 download above.

Upcoming Breeders Shows! 01 Jul 2008

The Breeders are coming through NJ and NYC next week with a string of dates!

Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues - Thursday, July 10 - 8pm
**New York, NY - Other Music - Friday, July 11 - 9pm**
Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom - Saturday, July 12 - 8pm
Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Pool Party - Sunday, July 13 - 2pm

**For details on how to enter to win a chance to see the band play at OM, check out othermusic.com for further info**

New Emiliana Torrini album coming! 01 Jul 2008

Rough Trade is delighted to announce a stunning new album from the hugely talented Emiliana Torrini.
Hear the title track: "Me And Armini"

Following her critically acclaimed albums Love In The Time Of Science and her Rough Trade debut Fisherman's Woman, the forthcoming Me And Armini (release date September 9th) sees her working once again with her long time producer/collaborator Dan Carey, resulting in what we feel is destined to be one of the loveliest albums of 2008.

Me And Armini is a hugely ambitious and aspirational pop record with Emiliana’s soaring voice centre stage, bolstered by a rich gamut of musical styles. From the summery skank of the title track to the surging, breathless “Jungle Drum” and the yearning “Big Jumps” and much more in between, Me And Armini is a truly fantastic album. For those not in the know, the pedigree paring of Torrini's songwriting and Carey's sonic alchemy (currently being put to work on the new Franz Ferdinand and recent Hot Chip records) has previously combined to world-beating effect when they co-wrote/produced a number-one hit for Kylie Minogue in the shape of the huge-selling pop smash “Slow” as well as contributing “Gollum's Song” to the multi-platinum soundtrack to The Lord Of The Rings.

Emiliana Torrini is half Icelandic, half Italian. She grew up in Iceland in a town outside Reykjavik and spent her childhood summers with her grandmother in the far east of Iceland out in the wild, spacious countryside. Her teen summers were spent in Germany with her Italian uncle. Her worldwide debut album, 1999’s Love In The Time Of Science, was produced by Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears and was a gorgeous electronic trip-hop influenced album. Her second album, Fisherman’s Woman was a little closer to Nick and included the song “Honeymoon Child“ written by Smog’s Bill Callahan, who Emiliana spent some time writing with in the US. Fisherman’s Woman’s theme was loss – sometimes dripping with sadness but more frequently imbued with almost magical optimism.

Me and Armini will be released by Rough Trade in the US on September 9th, and marks another new chapter in Emiliana’s impressive career.

Ratatat On The Road 30 Jun 2008

Ratatat are hitting the road with a string of dates. Starting in Seattle and ending in Brooklyn! And if you're not able to catch the guys this time around, check out one of the upcoming LP3 listening parties we've set up in NYC, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix and Miami (with more to be announced shortly).

**PLEASE NOTE THE SEATTLE VENUE HAS BEEN MOVED FROM CHOP SUEY TO NEUMOS!**

LP3 LISTENING PARTIES (click the links for details).

SATURDAY, JUNE 28
Dark Wave Disco feat LP3
Sonotheque - Chicago, IL
myspace.com/darkwavedisco

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
High Voltage! feat LP3
The Annex - NYC (152 Orchard St)
myspace.com/highvoltage

FRIDAY, JULY 4
LipGloss feat LP3
La Rumba - Denver, Colorado (99 W 9th Ave)
www.denver3.com

SATURDAY, JULY 5
Shake! feat LP3
Rogue Bar - Phoenix, AZ (423 N Scottsdale Rd)
www.iloveshake.com
www.myspace.com/shakeroguebar

SATURDAY, JULY 5
POPLIFE feat LP3
White Room - Miami FL (1306 N. Miami Ave)
10-11pm listening party followed w/ POPLIFE DJs!
18+ / $10 cover
www.epoplife.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9
The Rumble / OWL Mag feat LP3
Harlot - San Francisco, CA (46 Minna St)
8pm
www.sonicliving.com/theowlmag/therumble
Free entry with SonicLiving RSVP before 10PM. ONE RSVP PER PERSON.
Free vodka lemon drops (8 to 9)
(Win a chance at a pair of tix to the sold out Slims show!)

FRIDAY, JULY 11
Obscura feat LP3
The Ruby Room - Phoenix, AZ (717 S. Central Ave.)
9pm listening party
www.myspace.com/therubyroomlounge

FRIDAY, JULY 11
GBH Listening Session
Hiro Ballroom - NYC (371 W. 16th St.)
www.gbh.tv
(Details TBC)

(Keep checking in for more listening party dates to be posted soon!).

National Geographic To Webcast Sigur Ros / Bjork Concert Tomorrow (June 28) 27 Jun 2008

We are pleased to announce that National Geographic will be presenting the webcast of this Saturday’s (June 28) Björk / Sigur Rós Náttúra concert in Reykjavik live from their website.  The webcast will start at 7pm GMT (3pm EST) when Sigur Rós takes the stage.  More information is on the Nat Geo World Music website.

Scott Walker NOT performing.......but close! 26 Jun 2008

SCOTT WALKER is PRODUCING a special event in the UK, although he is NOT performing. I repeat NOT performing.

These shows are world premiere live performances of songs from Scott Walker's seminal works including Tilt and The Drift.
These special concerts, produced by Walker himself, will be set and designed for the Barbican Theatre stage, and include orchestra, Scott's band, and feature special guest vocalists performing his songs.

Drifting and Tilting - The Songs of Scott Walker
13 - 15 November 2008 / 19:45
Barbican Theatre, London

Directed by Ann-Christin Rommen
Concepts by Scott Walker
Sound Production by Scott Walker and Peter Walsh
Produced by the Barbican in association with Cultural Industry

Med Sud.... In Stores Now 24 Jun 2008

Sigur Rós' new album is in stores today and available from our store.  Hamingjusamur gefa út dagur!   (we think that means "happy release day") 

Adam Green & Dr.John 24 Jun 2008

As previously noted, Adam Green and his band had the pleasure of opening for Dr.John last week in NYC at the Highline Ballroom. It was a grand ole' time, and the audience didn't quite know what to make of Adam, but before you knew it, they were tapping their feet and bobbing their heads along to the strains of Morning After Midnight. It was Dr.John's record release show, and he put on a fine one. They had a chance to meet backstage and the moment was captured for your viewing pleasure!

Sigur Ros Announce North American Tour 20 Jun 2008

Sigur Rós announced a North American Tour to support of their forthcoming full-length, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (English translation: with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly), hitting stores on June 24th on XL Recordings. The dates, which begin on September 17th at New York City's United Palace Theatre, will see the band playing some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including a show at Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. A pre-sale will begin for fans today, June 20th, at 9 am EST via the band's website, www.sigurros.com. A general on-sale will take place on June 27th.

Sigur Rós recently performed a handful of live shows in North America this month, taking the band from Mexico to this year's Bonnaroo Festival, to New York City, where they played two very amazing, very special shows, including one at the Museum of Modern Art. Mixing classic, fan-favorites from their critically-acclaimed catalogue with new songs from the brilliant Med Sud..., Sigur Rós live show is the best it s ever been. The shows this Fall will see the band comprised of Jón Thor Birgisson (vocals, guitar), Georg Holm (bass), Kjartan Sveinsson (keyboards/piano), and Orri Páll Dýrason (drums) performing as a four-piece for the first time in almost ten years.

The dates are:
9/17/08 New York, NY @ United Palace Theatre
9/18/08 New York, NY @ United Palace Theatre
9/19/08 Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
9/20/08 Montreal, QC @ Quai Jacques Cartier
9/22/08 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
9/23/08 Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
9/24/08 Chicago, IL @ The Chicago Theatre
9/25/08 Minneapolis, MN @ The Orpheum Theatre
9/27/08 Denver, CO @ Morrison Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/28/08 Salt Lake City, UT @ Saltair
9/30/08 Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
10/1/08 San Diego, CA @ Copley Symphony Hall
10/2/08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/3/08 Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre
10/5/08 Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
10/6/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Theatre
10/7/08 Vancouver, BC @ The Chan Centre

Get Well Dorian! 19 Jun 2008

A statement from The Long Blondes...

"On 9th June, Dorian was rushed to hospital after falling ill, and he is still in hospital in Sheffield in a serious condition. Because of this we will regrettably be canceling all our live appearances until the end of July (see below). Dorian is improving slowly and we will keep you updated on his condition. If you would like to leave a message on myspace, facebook, or through the website, we would be glad to pass them on to him when we visit."

Feel better soon Dors.

The Long Blondes x

Cancelled shows:
21st June  - One Love Festival - Istanbul, Turkey   
29th June - Glastonbury Festival, John Peel stage
3rd July  - O2 Arena, London (with Duran Duran)
5th July - Pop Circus - Milan, Italy
7th July - Birmingham NIA (with Duran Duran)
18th July - Summercase - Barcelona, Spain 
19th July - Summercase - Madrid, Spain

I Was A Cub Scout news & mp3 18 Jun 2008

I Was A Cub Scout WAS a UK-based duo comprised of Todd Marriott (vocals, guitars and synth) and William Bowerman (drums). I say WAS, because they recently broke up - major bummer! We still put out their debut album I Want You To Know That There Is Always Hope digitally (now) and physically (June 24th), and despite the fact that they aren't a band anymore, this album is great and we hope that some folks still get to enjoy it!

That being said, here's a brand new mp3 for the song "Pink Squares". Please take a listen and enjoy.

They're a little bit poppy, a little bit emo, and a little bit rock. If you like bands like The Postal Service, Editors and Jimmy Eat World, you just might like this band....and the album was produced by Hugh Padgham (The Police! David Bowie! Phil Collins!)

Here's the amazing video for "Pink Squares" too.

“A cleverly crafted angle of scrumptious indie pop drenched with emotion and brilliant, bold beats” – NME
”Fragile yet determined, it’s the perfect soundtrack to life and love” – Kerrang!

The National A Skin, A Night Screenings 12 Jun 2008

Hey hey National Fans -

We're still looking to throw some more A Skin, A Night screenings in your city.

Check out this upcoming one happening in lovely Denver, CO at Hi-Dive!

Thursday, July 3

7:00pm

FREE!

www.hi-dive.com

TNT On NPR's World Cafe Today 11 Jun 2008

Tapes 'n Tapes World Cafe session will be broadcast on Wednesday, July 16, between 2P-4P EST. Tune in: http://www.xpn.org/listen_live/listen.php

Adam Green to open for Dr.John! 11 Jun 2008

In a concert combination that will make your head explode, our own ADAM GREEN will be opening for DR. JOHN on TUESDAY, JUNE 17th at the HIGHLINE BALLROOM !

I've said it before and I'll say it again - drop any preconceived notions you have about Adam - because he's made an amazing record that is truly impressive.
Have a listen to his gorgeous song "Getting Led"
http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/mp3/adamgreen_getting_led.mp3

It's a very special night for the both of them. It's Dr. John's cd release show, and Dr. John is one of Adam's heroes, so opening up for him is a true career highlight. I asked Adam to explain to me what this opening slot meant to him, and this is what he said.

"Dr. John is an adorable man. I was originally attracted to his zu-zu man persona, but now I would happily flip through his hat collection. My favorite song of his is "Black Widow Spider."  It's hard to describe the type of music that is... it's almost goth-funk I guess.  I dig goth music 'cause I'm a dancing maniac these days.  I buy a lot of Dr. John's records on ebay.. Maybe if he hears my good music, he would allow me to write some of his new album with him.  Since my keyboard player is having a baby soon, maybe Dr. John could play keyboards with me at Reading Festival.  You never know because I get lucky sometimes."

The Breeders Announce Upcoming NYC Dates! 11 Jun 2008

Off the heels of an incredible and sold out Webster Hall show, we're pleased to announce two additional NYC Breeders shows including a FREE show at Brooklyn's McCarren Pool.

Stay tuned for an update on the Other Music instore!

Last.fm Giving Med Sud.... The Premiere Treatment 09 Jun 2008

Last.fm is helping spread the word on the new Sigur Rós album (which will be in stores on June 24).  Here is the official press release.

LAST.FM ANNOUNCES GLOBAL PREMIERE OF THE NEW SIGUR RÓS ALBUM
Social Music Network Offers Entire Sigur Rós Album for Free-On-Demand Listening for Two Weeks Leading Up to Official Release Sigur Rós Say Last.fm is “The Perfect Place to Listen to Our New Album”

London/New York, 9th June - Last.fm today announced that the new Sigur Rós album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, is now globally available for fans to listen to for free in its entirety on the site today, two weeks before its official release on June 23rd. Last.fm, the official online media partner of Sigur Rós for this album, will make all twelve tracks live on the site today at midday GMT.   Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust – which translates as "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly" – is the fifth studio album from the critically acclaimed Icelandic band.

Sigur Rós vocalist Jón Þór “Jónsi” Birgisson said: “We know our fans listen to Last.fm so it’s the perfect place to be listening to our new album.”

Martin Stiksel, Last.fm co-founder, said: “Sigur Rós are one of the most popular bands on Last.fm, with over 25 million plays, so we’re thrilled to be able to offer our community the chance to hear their fantastic new album for free. After our Portishead premiere in April, it’s great to see more bands embracing the opportunities Last.fm provides to engage fans through free-on-demand streaming.”

To listen to the album go to Last.fm.  

This Sigur Rós album preview is the second major free album premiere for Last.fm, following the site’s exclusive streaming of the new Portishead album in April, which was listened to by over 300,000 music fans. 

As seen on Pitchfork 02 Jun 2008

Aaron Dessner Discusses Red Hot Comp, the National

Charity compilation additions include Feist collaborating with Ben Gibbard and with Grizzly Bear, Bright Eyes, Spoon, New Pornographers, Antony, Yo La Tengo, Stuart Murdoch.

If you thought the initial lineup for the latest compilation benefiting AIDS charity Red Hot looked pretty unreal, well, it just might be time to re-define your reality. In a recent conversation with Pitchfork, Aaron Dessner-- who is co-curating the comp along with his twin brother and National bandmate Bryce-- shed some more light on what's fast shaping up to be the definitive snapshot of indie rock in the 00s.

I mean, just look at the lineup. In addition to previously mentioned contributions from Sufjan Stevens, Feist, Grizzly Bear, the Decemberists, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, the National themselves, and the combined powers of David Byrne and Dirty Projectors, Dessner tells us the Red Hot set will also feature Bright Eyes, Spoon, the New Pornographers, Antony (with Bryce Dessner), Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, the Books with José González (covering Nick Drake's "Cello Song"), Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, My Brightest Diamond (covering "Feeling Good", famously interpreted by Nina Simone), Sigur Rós offshoot Riceboy Sleeps, and TV on the Radio's David Sitek.

As if that weren't nutty enough, Feist actually appears twice-- once with Grizzly Bear, and once with Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard-- while the National are joined by ace composer/arranger Nico Muhly on their track. Grizzly Bear have a second tune, sans Feist, as well. And those are just the confirmed participants; Dessner expects quite a few more. "It'll probably end up being between 24 and 30 tracks," he reports. "We're probably about 80% done with it...we're hoping for a fall release, but it may be an early 2009 release, depending on a few people that we're still waiting on."

The comp will not necessarily be called Red Hot + Indie, as some have suggested. According to Dessner, they've yet to settle on a title for it. The Beggars Group will release the album, while proceeds will go to Population Services International's YouthAIDS organization.

Aaron, who has worked for Red Hot and sister company Funny Garbage, is impressed with the response the comp has received so far. "We're kind of shocked at how enthusiastic people have been," he says. "It hasn't been hard to convince people to do this, because everybody knows about Red Hot, and because a lot of us had [1993 Red Hot charity comp] No Alternative. That had the hidden Nirvana track on there, which was like a big thing back then."

He's also thrilled with the results to date. "We've been amazed...people are giving us great tracks. I think maybe part of that is people know Red Hot and part of it is like, whenever you get all of your peers together, nobody wants to have the dog, you know?"

Aaron's comp work is on hold for the moment, however, as the National kicked off their tour with Modest Mouse and R.E.M. over the weekend. The jaunt has Dessner feeling "really humbled and grateful. We've been used to playing our own shows for quite a while now, and I guess the last time we opened was more than a year ago, when we did the Arcade Fire tour, which was a similar situation of just being really humbled to play with a band that we really respect."

Despite all the recent goings-on, Dessner and the National have also "been working on a lot of music," coming up with "musical ideas and giving them to" vocalist Matt Berninger. "He's been trying to quit smoking so he has a lot of energy," Dessner notes with a laugh, "so he needs something to do with it, and he's been writing a lot. We actually just wrote a song that we played in Dublin. That's something we don't normally do-- playing something that we haven't really figured out-- but it felt really good. It's funny, nobody seemed to notice it, they all just wanted to hear, like, the songs that they came to hear, but it was really good for us to do."

As for the new jam's title? "I can't remember what he's calling it. You know, he may have been calling it 'The Blue Sky', although that's the name of an Allman Brothers song [actually "Blue Sky" --ed.], so we might have to change that. A really good Allman Brothers song, by the way, with dueling guitar parts!"

The brothers Dessner also continue to run the Brassland label with Alec Hanley Bemis. They'll release Nico Muhly's Mothertongue on July 22, while a new album from Bryce Dessner and co.'s Clogs-- featuring contributions from Aaron, Sufjan Stevens, and My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden-- should surface this fall. The label is also planning a U.S. release of Little Blue Nothing, an album from Czech husband-and-wife cello duo Irena Havlová and Vojtěch Havel.

The National:

05-28 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
05-29 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl *
05-31 Berkeley, CA - The Greek Theatre *
06-01 Berkeley, CA - The Greek Theatre *
06-03 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
06-05 Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center *
06-06 Chicago, IL - United Center *
06-07 Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom
06-08 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre *
06-10 Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre *
06-11 Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion *
06-13 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts *
06-14 Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Theater *
06-18 Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center for the Performing Arts *
06-19 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden *
06-21 Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre *
06-22 Richmond, VA - The National
06-28 Cergy-Pontoise, France - Furia Sound Festival
06-29 Glastonbury, England - Glastonbury Festival
06-30 Birmingham, England - Academy
07-01 Leeds, England - Met University
07-03 Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter
07-04 London, England - O2 Wireless Festival
07-06 Turku, Finland - Ruisrock
07-08 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Mandela Hall
07-10 Lisbon, Portugal - Optimus Alive! Festival
07-12 Naas, Ireland - Oxegen Festival
07-13 Balado, Scotland - T in the Park
07-15 Athens, Greece - Fly Beeyond Festival
07-16 Montreux, Switzerland - Montreux Jazz Festival
07-17 Munich, Germany - Dachau Music Summer
07-18 Guimaraes, Portugal - Centro Cultural Vila Flor
07-20 Benicàssim, Spain - Benicàssim Festival
08-01-03 Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08-04 New York, NY - Central Park Summerstage #
08-07 Oslo, Norway - Øya Festival
08-08 Gothenburg, Sweden - Way Out West Festival
08-09 Rees-Haldern, Germany - Haldern Pop Festival
08-11 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
08-13 Aarhus, Denmark - Train
08-15 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands - Lowlands Festival
08-17 Crickhowell, Wales - Green Man Festival

* with R.E.M., Modest Mouse
# with Yeasayer, Plants and Animals

Check It: This This Sunday The Beggars Group Rules The NPR Airwaves 30 May 2008

Thats right - this Sunday, June 1 we are going to have 2 artists featured on NPR!

Jeffrey Lewis newest album, 12 Crass Songs, is out on Rough Trade. He has been on tour non-stop since its release (including a stint with British Sea Power and currently with Los Campesions!) and stopped by the NPR Studios in Minneapolis for a chat with All Things Considered about his album of Crass covers and undoubtedly his other career as the writer/illustrator of comic books.

Be Your Own Pet are also on the road (the Nylon Magazine Music Tour) and stopped by the DC offices of NPR for a sit-down with Weekend Edition. They have an EP, Get Damaged, coming out on XL Recordings June 3 (digitally) and June 24 (in-stores). Get Damaged contains the 3 tracks that were cut from their recent album, Get Awkward (Universal/Ecstatic Peace) for being too violent. So listen to what they have to say about that, touring with She Wants Revenge and their upcoming stint on the Warped Tour.

So check with your local NPR Station to see when they air both Weekend Edition Sunday and Weekend All Things Considered and plan your Sunday brunch plans around that!

The Long Blondes West Coast Dates! 30 May 2008

The Long Blondes are rounding out their non-stop US tour with a string of West Coast dates starting this weekend in Portland. Followed by San Francisco, Pomona and their final stop in LA at The Troubadour on June 4th (w/ an afterparty at Goa). Be sure to catch them if they're swinging through your city!

Saturday, May 31 - Doug Fir (Portland, OR)

Monday, June 02 - Great American Music Hall (San Francisco, CA)

Tuesday, June 03 - Glasshouse (Pomona, CA)

Wednesday, June 04-Troubadour (Los Angeles, CA)

Sigur Ros Announce New Album, MP3 and Video 27 May 2008

Sigur Rós will be releasing their new album worldwide the week of June 23. It is called Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. You can download the first track "Gobbledigook" and watch the video right now on SigurRos.com.

This is the official announcement...

Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
(English spelling: Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust)

Sigur Rós will be releasing their fifth album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (English translation: with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly), on June 24. The first track from the album, entitled "Gobbledigook," is available worldwide for free download via SigurRos.com. The video for the song is also on the website.

A pre-sale for the album will begin on SigurRos.com on June 2. A special deluxe edition of the album to be released later in the year — featuring a "Making Of… " book, a film and more — will also be available to pre-order on the band's website as of June 2. A stream of Með suð í eyrum… will be available to hear on SigurRos.com on June 9. Lastly, a plethora of Sigur Rós goodies — exclusive clips, information on tickets for upcoming shows throughout the year, etc. — will be available to those who sign up for the mailing list on SigurRos.com.

Með suð í eyrum… was co-produced with the band by renowned producer Flood, and was recorded in New York City (at Sear Sound Studios), London (at Assault and Battery Studios and Abbey Road), Reykjavík (at Álafoss, the band's studio, as well as a church in Reykjavík), and Havana, Cuba. Whereas Sigur Rós' last release — the critically-acclaimed documentary Heima, chronicling their free tour throughout Iceland — took the band to their homeland, their newest creation, Með suð í eyrum… is the first album in the band's career to be made outside of Iceland. It is also their first album to feature vocalist Jón "Jónsi" Thor Birgisson's vocals in English on one track (the remainder are sung in Icelandic).

Inspired by the unfettered feeling of the acoustic performances filmed during Heima, Sigur Rós decided to adopt a looser approach in the writing and creation of their brilliant fifth album. The material for the album was written, recorded and mixed entirely in 2008 and is being released just one month after its completion. The album glows with the perfect imperfection of live takes, the sounds of fingers playing guitar strings, cracked notes, and a stark, upfront presence not found in previous Sigur Rós recordings, moving away from reverb-soaked guitar sounds towards something altogether more affecting. The record also contains some of the most joyous music the band has ever recorded.

Opener "Gobbledigook" sets the tone for Með suð í eyrum… with its shifting acoustic guitars, playful vocals, time signature swings and swirling percussion, while "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur" ("Within me a lunatic sings") sparkles as one of the most anthemic songs Sigur Rós have ever written. "Festival" is epic in its elation and scope, "Illgresi" features one of Jónsi's finest vocal melodies over a lone acoustic guitar, and "Ára bátur" is the largest musical undertaking in the band's career, as it was recorded live in one take with the London Sinfonietta and London Oratory Boy's Choir, a total of 90 people playing at the same time. The band also utilized the talents of their string-quartet friends Amiina, as well as a five-piece brass section on certain tracks, in addition to introducing the Mellotron into their writing/recording process for the first time on this album, highlighted on one of the most tender and beautiful songs on the record, "Fljótavík."

The spirit of Með suð í eyrum… is best captured by the album's stunning artwork, contributed by acclaimed visual artist Ryan McGinley. McGinley first met the band when he photographed Jónsi six years ago; the album cover was taken from a flyer for McGinley's most recent exhibit, "I Know Where the Summer Goes," which happened to find its way into Jónsi's inbox just as the band was deciding on how to best visually represent their new collection of songs. The result is a perfect synergy of the aural and the visual.

The tracklisting for Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly) is…

1. Gobbledigook
2. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
3. Góðan daginn
4. Við spilum endalaust
5. Festival
6. Með suð í eyrum
7. Ára bátur
8. Illgresi
9. Fljótavík
10. Straumnes
11. All Alright

Sigur Rós will be playing shows all over the globe throughout the summer and fall to preview material from Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, including a special set at this year's Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The tour dates are:

The June tour dates…
6/5/08 Guadalajara, MEX @ Teatro Degollado
6/7/08 Tepoztlan, MEX @ Festival La Colmena
6/8/08 Tijuana, MEX @ Planeta Tijuana
6/11/08 Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theater
6/12/08 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
6/14/08 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
6/16/08 New York, NY @ Grand Ballroom
6/20/08 Neuhausen ob Eck @ Southside Festival
6/22/08 Scheesel, Bremen @ Hurricane Festival

More worldwide tour dates will be announced soon.

Sigur Rós is: Jón Thor Birgisson (vocals, guitar), Georg Holm (bass), Kjartan Sveinsson (keyboards/piano), Orrí Páll Dýrason (drums).

Peter Murphy On Tour 21 May 2008

Peter Murphy (whose many solo albums you can buy from this very website on CD and mp3) is hitting the road this summer for a full blown North American tour. Since the band broke up right at the release of Bauhaus' highly anticipated new album, Go Away White, this will still do the trick for a support tour. He will be joined by singer/songwriter Ali Eskandarian, who unleashed his debut album back in March on Wildflower Records. An opportunity to see Peter Murphy live is always something to take advantage of, so go catch him if he is coming to a town near you, and make sure you show up early for Ali Eskandarian.

05.30.08 - Seattle, WA (El Corazon)
05.31.08 - Portland, OR (Berbati's)
06.02.08 - San Francisco, CA (Regency Center)
06.03.08 - Anaheim, CA (House Of Blues)
06.04.08 - San Diego, CA (House Of Blues)
06.05.08 - Los Angeles, CA (House Of Blues)
06.06.08 - Ventura, CA (Ventura Theatre)
06.08.08 - Las Vegas, NV (House Of Blues)
06.09.08 - Tempe, AZ (Marquee Theatre)
06.11.08 - Denver, CO (Ogden)
06.15.08 - Kansas City, MO (Beaumont Club)
06.16.08 - Minneapolis, MN (Fine Line Music Cafe)
06.17.08 - Chicago, IL (House Of Blues)
06.18.08 - Detroit, MI (Royal Oak)
06.20.08 - Columbus, OH (Promo West)
06.21.08 - Cleveland, OH (House Of Blues)
06.22.08 - Buffalo, NY (The Tralf)
06.23.08 - Pittsburgh, PA (New Hazlett Theater)
06.25.08 - Atlantic City, NJ (House Of Blues)
06.26.08 - New York, NY (Blender Theater at Grammercy)
06.27.08 - New York, NY (Blender Theater at Grammercy)
06.28.08 - Boston, MA (Roxy)
06.29.08 - Philadelphia, PA (Trocadero)
06.30.08 - Baltimore, MD (Rams Head Live)
07.02.08 - Atlanta, GA (Center Stage)
07.03.08 - Tampa, FL (Tampa Theatre)
07.04.08 - Jacksonville, FL (Freebird)
07.05.08 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Revolution)
07.06.08 - Orlando, FL (House Of Blues)
07.09.08 - New Orleans, LA (House Of Blues)
07.10.08 - Houston, TX (Meridian)
07.11.08 - Austin, TX (Emos)
07.12.08 - Dallas, TX (House Of Blues)

Stereolab Announces US Fall Tour 20 May 2008

This just in from Pikey....

******* 

Dear All
Here are the US tour dates for 2008

09-20 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09-21 Pomona, CA - Glass House
09-24 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
09-26 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
09-27 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
09-29 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
09-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-01 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
10-02 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-03 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-04 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-06 Boston, MA - Paradise *
10-07 Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda *
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre *
10-09 Detroit, MI - The Crofoot *
10-10 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *
10-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
10-14 Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre *
10-17 Seattle, WA - Showbox *
10-18 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *
10-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
10-21 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-22 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
10-23 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
10-24 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *

* with Monade

- Pikey 

The Long Blondes Hit The Road 08 May 2008

Starting off Wed, 5/14 at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia.

Followed by Thurs, 5/15 at Brooklyn's Studio B and Friday, 5/16 at the Bowery Ballroom . Tour Routing Here .

The Long Blondes "Couples" - out today! 06 May 2008

The new album by THE LONG BLONDES is out today! Our favorite Sheffieldians have returned with a kick ass new record - "Couples" that shakes up any thoughts you hay have had about them before!

Have a little taste:

LISTEN to "Here Comes The Serious Bit"

WATCH the video for "Guilt"

These glamorous folks are going on tour soon, and hopefully coming to a town near YOU!

• 14 May 2008 Johnny Brenda'sPhiladelphia Pennsylvania US
• 15 May 2008 Studio BBrooklyn New York US
• 16 May 2008 Bowery BallroomNew York New York US
• 17 May 2008 Rock And Roll HotelWashington District Of Columbia US
• 19 May 2008 Great ScottAllston Massachusetts US
• 20 May 2008 Cabaret Du MuseeMontreal Quebec US
• 22 May 2008 Lee's PalaceToronto Ontario CA
• 23 May 2008 Magic StickDetroit Michigan US
• 24 May 2008 Logan Square AuditoriumChicago Illinois US
• 25 May 2008 7th Street EntryMinneapolis Minnesota US
• 28 May 2008 Neumo'sSeattle Washington US
• 30 May 2008 Richards On RichardsVancouver British Columbia CA
• 31 May 2008 Doug FirPortland Oregon US
• 02 June 2008 Great American Music HallSan Francisco California US
• 03 June 2008 GlasshousePomona California US
• 04 June 2008 TroubadourLos Angeles California US

John Darnielle, do-gooder, renaissance man.... 02 May 2008

We all know how talented John Darnielle is musically, with the hundreds of songs he's written for his band The Mountain Goats and, anyone that likes metal knows he is a hell of a writer about that genre. He's written for several metal mags and has a regular column in decibel , oh - and his own blog, Last Plane To Jakarta is a favorite bookmark for many.

Now, John has finally written a book ! It's part of the 33 1/3 series of books on classic albums. His is on Master of Reality by Black Sabbath .

If you live in NYC, you are lucky, for 2 reasons.

1) because John will be reading from his book at Housing Works Bookstore as part of their 10th anniversary celebration. His reading is on May 17th, and more info is here !

2) John is also playing a benefit for Aids Walk NYC the day prior, May 16th at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. More info/tickets here!

SO....get out, support bookstores, give to charities and support independent music!

Stereolab New Album!!! 24 Apr 2008

We're delighted to confirm what the eagle eyed among you have already spotted, Stereolab's forthcoming new album, Chemical Chords, is indeed being released by Duophonic UHF Disks / 4AD on August 19th (August 18th for those outside the US).

Vampire Weekend on Kimmel tonight! 23 Apr 2008

Vampire Weekend will be perfoming on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday 4/23. Be sure to tune in! Other guests are Bill Hader (he was so nice to us at SNL!) and Eric Dane (mc steamy or mc dreamy or mc dude from grey's anatomy that's NOT they guy in all the rom com movies). Oh....also, Vampire Weekend will be joined by some special guests! You'll just have to watch and see :)

Coachella 2008 Sale 22 Apr 2008

To celebrate the mighty presence of Beggars bands at this year’s Coachella we decided to put all of their albums in our catalogue on sale! This includes albums from The Breeders, Vampire Weekend, The National, Holy Fuck , St. Vincent, The Teenagers our ENTIRE Love & Rockets catalogue in every format we offer (Digital, CD and LP)!!!!

Just add the album you want to your shopping cart and enter the code "coachella" in the Promotional Code section during checkout. Pretty simple and bam! next thing you know you’ve got 10% off.

Click HERE to see the participating artists.

Three Mountain Goats classics now available on VINYL 17 Apr 2008

We have great news for all of you vinyl-loving Mountain Goats fans! Three classic Mountain Goats records, We Shall All Be Healed , Tallahasse , and The Sunset Tree are now available on vinyl. A couple of these have never been on wax before! Dust off or just buy a new record player, these albums come on high quality vinyl, and sound and look beautiful!

Announcing A Skin, A Night... 07 Apr 2008

A SKIN, A NIGHT
A FILM BY VINCENT MOON

A Skin, A Night is a film about THE NATIONAL made by French filmmaker Vincent Moon.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE! http://www.thenationalboxer.com/film/

It will be released on DVD by Beggars Banquet on May 20th and will be packaged with a bonus cd, The Virginia EP.

What goes on in A Skin, A Night, though, is not the stuff of well-rehearsed insider history. Nor is it a series of rock’n’roll clichés. Nor is it specifically concerned with the making of The National’s fourth full-length album, Boxer, even though much of it was filmed during sessions for that record at Peter Katis’s Bridgeport, Connecticut studio. A Skin, A Night is less a movie about The National than a movie about how music is made today -- not with classic rock bravado, or debauched indulgence, but through novelistic attention to detail, a collective implosion of personality, and worried worried nights.

When the association between Vincent and The National began, he wasn’t yet known as the auteur behind Le Blogotheque’s Les Concerts A Emporter aka The Take Away Shows. It was well before his tenure as image maker for R.E.M and Arcade Fire. And The National had yet to become one of the most beloved of the current crop of independent rock bands.

A Skin, A Night is a sixty-minute portrait of impressions, mutual affection, and intimate moments you’d never otherwise see. If The National’s lyrics seem to take us inside the human condition, Vincent Moon’s images take us outside, documenting the beauty of the sounds made by our human skin.

A Skin, A Night will be packaged with The Virginia EP, which contains 12 tracks of demos, live versions, radio sessions and b-sides.

The Virginia EP tracklisting:

1) YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN, VIRGINIA (previously unreleased)
2) SANTA CLARA (UK b-side)
3) BLANK SLATE (UK b-side)
4) TALL SAINT (demo)
5) WITHOUT PERMISSION (unreleased cover of Caroline Martin song)
6) FOREVER AFTER DAYS (demo)
7) REST OF YEARS (demo)
8) SLOW SHOW (demo)
9) LUCKY YOU (daytrotter session)
10) MANSION ON THE HILL (live)
11) FAKE EMPIRE (live)
12) ABOUT TODAY (live)

Adam Green Live MP3 27 Mar 2008

Go see Adam Green live at Town Hall on May 10. Get your tickets here . And speaking of live, Adam recently went to Australia and we have a song from those shows for download here:

Salty Candy - Live From Australia (MP3)

Oh, and if you missed it, our first single "Morning After Midnight" can be downloaded here too:

Morning After Midnight (MP3)

HOT band alert..... 19 Mar 2008

Stereogum On Devastations

Stereogum recently checked in with Devastations to talk about what they called "one of our favorites of this young year".

SO, we thought it would be nice to give y'all another listen to a song. Black Ice is our new promo mp3 for Devastations. Watch out...it's catchy!

Devastations: Black Ice (MP3)

Rjd2 SPRING TOUR! 18 Mar 2008

THE TEENAGERS SPRING TOUR!! 17 Mar 2008

ADAM GREEN'S NEW ALBUM AND TOWN HALL CONCERT 13 Mar 2008

Next Tuesday, March 18th, Rough Trade very happily releases Adam Green's fifth album, 'Sixes & Sevens'.

Adam is also headlining a concert at New York's legendary Town Hall on Saturday, May 10th. Keep 'em peeled for support announcements.

Click the image for ticket information.

Sigur Ros and Heima Take Over YouTube 07 Mar 2008

In a first-ever, YouTube is featuring a full-length music DVD on their site.  And to celebrate, we're also congratulating the 10 winners of the Minn Heima contest.  Go to Sigur Ros YouTube channel for all the details or just go to YouTube.com .

FILM SCHOOL: Spring classes are now in session 05 Mar 2008

We're happy to report, that starting with SXSW, FILM SCHOOL are hitting the road and playing shows coast to coast throughout the Spring. Many of which will be in support of British Sea Power. Below are the shows FILM SCHOOL have confirmed so far but we promise more dates in late April and early May are on the way. So keep checking back to see if they'll be hitting a city near you.

FILM SCHOOL SXSW 2008:

March 13th / Bay Area Takeover Party (4pm) / Beauty Bar

March 14th / Little Radio-Noise Pop Party (1:30pm) / Red Eye Fly

March 15th / Hot Freaks Party (2pm) / Mohawk

March 15th / SFxSXSW Party (12:25am) / Bourbon on 6th

FILM SCHOOL (supported by Airiel):

March 19th / Club Moscow at Boardner's / Los Angeles, CA

March 20th / Spaceland / Los Angeles, CA

March 21st / Art Bar / Las Vegas, NV

March 23rd / Beauty Bar / San Diego, CA

FILM SCHOOL supporting British Sea Power:

April 11th / The Loft / Dallas, TX

April 12th / Club Deville / Austin, TX

April 13th / Numbers / Houston, TX

April 15th / Spanish Moon / Baton Rouge, LA

April 17th / Club Downunder (FSU) / Tallahassee, FL

April 18th / The Social / Orlando, FL

April 19th / Jack Rabbits / Jacksonville, FL

April 21st / The Earl / Atlanta, GA

April 22nd / Bottletree / Birmingham, AL

April 23rd / Hi Tone / Memphis, TN

Vampire Weekend on SNL - 3/8 03 Mar 2008

Basia Bulat finds out hockey players are pretty cool! 01 Mar 2008

Who knew that an NHL star would be into indie Rock? Well we found one - NY Ranger Sean Avery is a huge fan of Basia Bulat and came to see her play at Bowrey Ballroom this past Friday night. And not only is he loving her debut album Oh, My Darling, but he impressed us with his wide-range(r) of knowledge of music and the music biz. Who knows - maybe he will come work for us in the off season!

Teenagers Tour US, Seek Prom Royalty 27 Feb 2008

Just when you thought your daughters were safe, The Teenagers are returning to the US for more pre-prom drama. Details are on our tours page . And speaking of proms, the band just launched a new website and they are looking for a King and Prom queen. We're not sure if anything is in it for you, but shit.... if you liked Hot or Not, this might be your bag.

http://www.theteenagers.net/prom

Devastations are worried about Britney. 22 Feb 2008

The Devastations....so sweet, so caring...so concerned!

They just don't want Brit Brit to make any more

"MISTAKES" 

 From the Devastations blog...

oh, britney.... 7 January 08

i must confess a total fascination with celebrity meltdown. i guess most people would probably hold a similar fascination. perhaps it’s because it allows you to judge those whom normally you may consider ‘beyond judgement’, or maybe it’s just a vicarious thrill – i dunno – but this latest shit with britney has got me on the edge of my seat.

as much as i would like her to be ok and get herself together etc, i would also love little more than to see her in some OJ style car chase through malibu, brandishing a pistol and spewing bile at the TV crews and police.

it’s totally playing out like the classic american tale of the dizzying heights of fame and excess, and i’m all sucked in.

the interesting thing though is her old snugglin’ partner, herr timberlake – who, try as he might, cannot put a foot wrong in life. i don’t know if he has publicly come forward to support britney or whatever – he probably has – but i would love to know his thoughts on the fact that the further britney falls, the higher he climbs.

two ex-mickey mouse club kids (what more perfect symbol of america?) and their seperate, yet intrinsically linked paths.

sometimes i think the CIA is behind all this.

it’ll make the best movie ever.

go britney,

cs xx

Happy Valentines Day from THE LONG BLONDES 14 Feb 2008

Today is a GREAT day to tell you about the upcoming album by THE LONG BLONDES....1) because it's awesome 2) because it's called "Couples"! It will be released on April 8th by Rough Trade. Legend has it that the recording of the album took place under the watchful gaze of the ‘couples wall’, constructed in the studio by the band and featuring images of dynamic duos throughout history; The Two Ronnies, Gilbert and George, Ron and Russel Mael of Sparks and Basil and Sybil Fawlty to name but a few. Bassist Reenie Hollis explains: “Situations continually arose when we would look towards famous couples for inspiration, entertainment or enlightenment. It was either fate or the onset of cabin fever but “Couples” seemed like the ideal title.” More prosaically, most of the songs relate to the relationships between couples, or at least ex-couples. So.......whether your single or part of a "Couple" - The Long Blondes new album HEARTS U 4 EVER!

New Adam Green Video 14 Feb 2008

Here's the new Adam Green video for "Morning After Midnight" directed by Todd Smolar. We always knew Adam was a man of many talents but wouldn't guessed he was of so many genders as well...

Congrats to FILM SCHOOL! 13 Feb 2008

FILM SCHOOL landed at the #4 spot in the LA RECORD readers poll for the Best LA Albums of 2007!

REM hearts THE NATIONAL! 04 Feb 2008

REM is taking THE NATIONAL on tour! OK...Modest Mouse is coming too, but it will be a shiny happy tour and one of the smartest triple bills around. Here are the dates as we know 'em. And a montage image courtesy of the interweb.

23 MAY: VANCOUVER, BC - DEER LAKE PARK w/ R.E.M. + Modest Mouse
29 MAY: LOS ANGELES, CA - HOLLYWOOD BOWL w/ R.E.M. + Modest Mouse
31 MAY: BERKELEY, CA - GREEK THEATRE w/ R.E.M. + Modest Mouse
03 JUNE: DENVER, CO - RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE w/ R.E.M. + Modest Mouse
06 JUNE: CHICAGO, IL - UNITED CENTER w/ R.E.M. + Modest Mouse
08 JUNE: TORONTO, ON - MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE w/ R.E.M. + Modest Mouse
10 JUNE: RALEIGH, NC - WALNUT CREEK AMPHITHEATRE w/