The Hold Steady Announce U.S. Tour

09-09 New Britain, CT - Central Connecticut University
09-17 New York, NY - CBGB'S (Frenchkiss Records Showcase)
09-30 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwells
10-01 Lexington, VA - Washington & Lee University Outdoor Fest
10-10 Fargo, ND - VFW Hall
10-11 Winnipeg, Manitoba - West End Cultural Center
10-15 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
10-16 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
10-17 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
10-18 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
10-20 Los Angeles, CA - Knitting Factory
10-22 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
10-23 Tuscon, AZ - Plush
10-25 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
10-27 Columbia, MO - Mojos
10-28 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
10-30 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
11-05 Cambridge, MA - The Middle East
11-07 New York, NY - Webster Hall

In other Hold Steady news, both the band and their Separation Sunday track "Stevie Nix" are currently featured in the web-only "college life" series "Odds Against 7even", which began streaming weekly episodes last month. And yes, the multi-chapter show is produced by retail giant Target, but before your indie-lovin' eyes glaze over with dollar signs, guitarist Tad Kubler spoke to Pitchfork about the band's participation in the online series during a recent interview with Brian Howe:

"The kind of campaign that they're doing, it's hard to know how that will translate to the band, in terms of profile stuff, record sales, or more people coming to our shows. Because Craig and I are older, how many times do you think we've heard, 'This record is great, you guys are going to be huge!' But this kind of stuff is really helpful in terms of enjoying what you're doing and being in the moment. It's not like I'm looking for places to buy in Manhattan now because we're on the Target website."

The web series also features a number of other high-profile Pitchfork heroes, including tracks from Bloc Party (who contributed the theme song), Stars, British Sea Power, the Black Keys, and Super Furries frontman Gruff Rhys. We can smell a line of pre-faded Yo La Tengo and Bright Eyes shirts hitting the racks any day now.

* The Hold Steady: <a

Odds Against 7even: http://www.oddsagainst7even.com

Alan Sparhawk, Mark Kozelek Are Retribution Gospel Choir

Word on the street is that the Choir is a full-blown rock band. Considering both Low's notorious 1998 turn as a Misfits tribute band and Kozelek's AC/DC fixation, should we expect nightly axe battles, complete with whammy-bar histrionics, flurries of tapping and hammer-ons, and a war-chest of effects pedals? Yes. Maybe. In the press release for the fall tour, Sparhawk spells out the deal: "Mark and I have known each other for a while and we both have a secret love for classic rock and a penchant for playing guitar solos. I've always come away from any collaboration excited and invigorated. When Low worked with the Dirty Three, it was one of the most fulfilling things we have ever done. And really, musicians used to do this kind of thing all the time-- it was a way to inspire each other. I think it's something that still needs to be in music now and that you don't have to make a record to back up and validate the music that you are playing. I mean, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight are touring together right now-- isn't that the same thing?" Yes, of course it is.

Most shows on the tour also feature power-poppers No Wait Wait, touring in support of their self-titled debut album on Sparhawk's label, Chairkickers' Union. The trek will culminate in a performance at the Chairkickers' CMJ showcase at Lit Lounge in New York City on September 17. Alas, Mark Kozelek will not be joining the Choir that night, but you can still revel in the glory of Sparhawk, Pollard and Livingtsone.

Get saved:

08-18 Eau Claire, WI - House of Rock
08-25 Minneapolis, MN Ð 400 Bar (Mark Kozelek solo)
08-30 Lawrence, KS - Gaslight Tavern *
08-31 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
09-01 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
09-03 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe *
09-04 Portland, OR Ð Berbatis Pan *
09-06 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
09-07 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland *
09-08 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit *
09-09 Pioneertown, CA Ð Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace (Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven Camp Out)$
09-10 Tucson, AZ - Plush *
09-12 Denton, TX - Hailey's *
09-13 Austin, TX - Emo's *
09-14 Houston, TX - Mary Jane's Fat Cat *
09-17 New York, NY - Lit Lounge (Chairkickers' CMJ showcase) *#

$ with Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven, Monks of Doom, Johnny Hickman
# Retribution Gospel Choir minus Mark Kozelek, with Kid Dakota, The Keep Aways

On the recording front, both Low and Sun Kil Moon have covers rolling up on us. Sparhawk and company will be lending their version of "Nowhere Man" to the upcoming This Bird has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul, out on Razor & Tie on October 25; Sun Kil Moon will be contributing a cover of Neil Diamond's "Kentucky Woman" to an EP for the Coalition of Independent Music Stores' Junket Boy label (in conjunction with Cameron Crowe's new film Elizabethtown) entitled Songs From the Brown Hotel which will be in stores August 16. Proceeds from the EP go to the Center for Women and Families.

Low: http://www.chairkickers.com
Sun Kil Moon: http://www.sunkilmoon.com

Menomena to Release Seven-Inch on Polyvinyl

The obviously very cheery collective haven't yet made plans to follow up their debut, but in the meantime, we'll be whetting our appetites with a seven-inch vinyl release that came out on Tuesday, August 9 on Polyvinyl records. The disc will consist of two tracks that didn't make it on the album: "Tung Track" and "Posh Isolation." But the real reason for grabbing this one before it goes away is the packaging, which was designed by member Danny Seim and is, we're told, pretty fooking awesome. Hand screenprinted! Die-cut jackets! On chipboard!

Tour dates! One appearance!:

09-09 Portland, OR! - Crystal Ballroom!

Menomena: http://www.menomena.com

Bill Moss, Founder of Capsoul Label, Dead at 69

The Capsoul story would have ended there, had it not been for the thirsty ears of avid collectors and DJs attracted to its releases' raw, quirky sound. (You might recognize Marion Black's "Who Knows" as the backbone of RjD2's "Smoke and Mirrors" on his debut album Deadringer.) The label's discography became highly prized over the years, and in 2004, the Chicago-based reissue imprint Numero Group released a stellar compilation of remastered Capsoul sides entitled Eccentric Soul: The Capsoul Label. At last, Moss's work would receive the attention (and distribution) it deserved

In a statement issued last week, the Numero Group's founders described Moss as "a remarkably strong and centered man deeply rooted in faith and family, [whose] work as a producer and record entrepreneur stands toe to toe with the finest soul and R&B of his era...We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend, advisor and source of inspiration. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family and the community he served and loved so well."

The Numero Group: http://www.numerogroup.com

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