Le Tigre Member Revamps Hair Salon

In Le Tigre's "Fake French", Kathleen Hanna sings, "I've got Plan B ability." She's talking about birth control, not Option X over Y. Still, the metaphor applies to bandmember (and Snarla author) Johanna Fateman's new project: Along with her BFF (and recent Seattle transplant) Shaun Cottle, Fateman is revamping Seagull, a beauty salon in New York City's West Village.

The first unisex barber shop in New York (and, some claim, the entire U.S.), Seagull opened in 1971. It's named after the title character in Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull, an actual bird who realizes that squabbling over food is, like, totally lame and maybe he should learn to fly instead. Fateman and Cottle's revamp includes custom-designed furniture by David MacLean, vintage styling chairs, and tchotchke-stylee magic from the co-owners' personal collections.

Seagull is staffed by a fistful of professionally trained stylists, and also a rotating group of hungry artists and off-tour musicians-- basically everyone you ever wanted to pick up on the subway and didn't. Fateman is the receptionist (and if you've seen the "Well Well Well" video, you'll know it's a job she has down pat), and Cottle wields his steez as a hair stylist and color specialist. Before moving to New York, he spent seven years at Vain, the only salon in Seattle where you can bring in a box of crayons and necklaces, then ask if they'll dye your hair to match. (They will.)

When Fateman isn't at the receptionist desk, she's working on LIBBER, a new project with Tracy + the Plastics' Wynne Greenwood. According to the zine Lesbians to the Rescue, LIBBER "brings percussion-based songs and video in a marching-band style to the stage."

Does this leave any time for Le Tigre? It's not impossible. (And Hanna does sing about "multiple alliances, whoah oh oh.") In the meantime, our hair's looking sweet.

Liars, Sunn 0))), Erase Errata Head Frieze Fest
Co-curated by Pulp's Steve Mackey

Talk about bringing people together! It seems like every location out there is pulling its weight in the fall festival craze. Most recently, London's Frieze Art Fair, put together by frieze art magazine, revealed its own live off-site music event, Frieze Music 2006.

FM'06 takes place over two days (October 13-14) at London's Hippodrome. The appropriately artsy-fartsy list of performers include Liars, Sunn 0))), Erase Errata, the Curtains, an all-girl English drum troupe called Leopard Leg, and more. Full lineup after the jump.

This year's festival was curated by Pulp's Steve Mackey, frieze Associate Editor Dan Fox, and Upset the Rhythm, a London-based DIY promoter/record label. [MORE...]

Mouse on Mars Prep Varcharz, Tour
Lithops record also in the pipeline

Supposedly, some anime films cause epilepsy due to their repeated flashing images. Guess that makes Mouse on Mars, the trio of Jan St. Werner, Andi Toma, and Dodo Nkishi-- who describe their brand of innovative techno as "epileptic music"-- the aural equivalent of anime. Their music is bright, pulsating, cartoonish, and liable to leave you jittery. For those of you who like to flout good health and warning labels, we are pleased to announce that Mouse on Mars will deliver a new album entitled Varcharz on September 12. The album will see release in the U.S. thanks to Mike Patton's Ipecac imprint.

Mouse on Mars produced Varcharz at their St. Martin Tonstudio in Düsseldorf. The album's title is a bungling of the word "wortschatz," which means "vocabulary." Got it, ja? Varcharz partially grew out of the sessions for 2004's Radical Connector, but promises to showcase the group's harder and more experimental qualities and call to mind its unpredictable live shows. And while it does not abandon the pop realm altogether, Varcharz-- unlike its predecessor-- features no vocals.

While Mouse on Mars have left the friendly confines of Thrill Jockey for Varcharz, they've not abandoned their old label completely. In fact, Lithops, the glitchy solo project of Mouse's St. Werner, will follow up this year's Queries (Sonig) with the release of Mound Magnet. The set arrives November 7 via Thrill Jockey. Tracklists for both Varcharz and Mound Magnet after the jump.

Lithops will also open a number of dates on Mouse on Mars' forthcoming tour, a North American jaunt with French DJ quartet Birdy Nam Nam that kicks off this November. Finally, MoM would like us to know that Germany's first female chancellor, Angela Merkel, has "bad mouth breath." Cheeky! Ponder that for a few months, and then get your jitter fix with live Mouse on Mars. [MORE...]

Goldfrapp Announce Single, NYC Gig
Starbucks announces new drink, worst pun ever: Goldfrappuccino

Prefacing the previously reported Flaming Lips/DFA/Múm/andsomuchmore extravaganza that is the upcoming Goldfrapp remix record, We Are Glitter (due October 17 via Mute in America only), comes a newly announced single for Supernature hit "Fly Me Away". The five track affair arrives September 26 as a digital download only, and includes several remixes (including two by Carl Craig as C2) and an exclusive B-side of the previously unreleased "Boys Will Be Boys". Full tracklist after the jump!

In support of the remix record, single, and recent success of Supernature and Black Cherry hits ("Ooh La La" was in a Diet Coke ad and on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance", and "Strict Machine" made its way into Verizon Wireless' Chocolate commercial and a "Nip/Tuck" promo), Goldfrapp will perform at New York's Roseland Ballroom on October 18. Should be glam-tastic. [MORE...]

Acid Mothers Temple/Ruins Tour in "Battle Formations"
Insert Voltron/Dragon Ball/Pokémon joke here

Three guys, seven bands, nine cities, one traveling Japanese festival. Sound nutty? Some of the craziness can be attributed to the fact that the men behind the music are Acid Mothers Temple's Tsuyama Atsushi and Kawabata Makoto, and Ruins' Yoshida Tatsuya-- touring together in numerous arrangements, among them Acid Mothers Temple SWR.

Now it's common knowledge that AMT and Ruins are two of the most exciting psychedelic artists active today, but what's with the new SWR arrangement? According to Tatsuya, "SWR is the AMT Family's most powerful battle-formation yet...their crushingly acute freakout sound will pulverize the world's legions of wannabe psych groups." Fuck with that, Devendra!

The Japanese New Music Festival, featuring the aforementioned trio and now in its fourth year, will travel across the bars and lounges of North America over the course of the next week. Here's the kicker-- for each gig, Atsushi, Tatsuya, and Makoto will arrange themselves in seven different band formations (including SWR). All in one night!! We're not sure how long each act will go on for, or how on Earth these dudes will have the necessary stamina to go all out like this, but it's looking like the Japanese psych rock spectacle of the summer, and it's nearly upon us!

The bands include Acid Mothers Temple SWR, a drum and sampled-bass solo incarnation of Ruins called Ruins Alone, experimental punk band Akaten, a cappella ensemble Zubi Zuva X, humorous improvisers Zoffy, improv pair Shrinp Wark, and the all-encompassing Seikazoku. Holy moly. But seriously, there's no sense trying to describe this shit-- just go see it. [MORE...]

YYYs, Broken Social, Antony Head Glasgow Fest
Also: Yo La Tengo, Gang of Four, the Fall, Tapes 'n Tapes, Hot Chip, Camera Obscura, Guillemots

Glasgow, you are in for a treat! Americans won't be the only ones reveling this weekend, as accompanying the awesomeness of Indian summer (weather) we have the Indian Summer Festival! This one goes down September 2 and 3 in Glasgow's Victoria Park and reads like a Pitchforker's wet dream: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Broken Social Scene, Antony and the Johnsons, the Fall, Yo La Tengo, Gang of Four, Tapes ‘n Tapes, Hot Chip, Camera Obscura, Guillemots, and more have gathered in Scotland to perform at the event. Complete lineup ahead. Keep yr pants on, dudes. [MORE...]

Merge Acts Celebrate Orange Club's Anniversary
Revelers include Superchunk, David Bazan, the Rosebuds, Ashley Stove, more

You know that bar? The one right around the corner? Just down the street? Where all the indie rockers go for a drink? Your Rainbo in Chicago? Your Clem's in Brooklyn?

Carrboro, North Carolina isn't Brooklyn, and it ain't Chicago either, but it has its own musician's watering mecca and-- get this-- it's down on Main Street. Orange County Social Club, founded by former Merge Records retail and mail order manager Tricia Mesigian five years ago, has become that place for Carrboro, a small town of just under 20,000 bordering Chapel Hill, the town whose indie rock Merge has helped make famous for more than a decade.

Mesigian left Merge to start the bar, but her original label crew-- which includes Superchunk and Merge co-founders Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan-- has been good for business. In the label's guide for out-of-towners at their four-day 15th anniversary party in June of 2004, they endorsed OCSC as the official label bar of choice, and McCaughan has sported OCSC apparel in the artwork for Portastatic's Autumn Was a Lark and Summer of the Shark.

As such, Merge (which isn't 21, btw) helps the bar celebrate its fifth birthday this month, beginning tonight (September 1), as Superchunk and Chris Lopez's Tenement Halls team up for a show at the Cat's Cradle. On September 18, it's "acoustic jams" night at the OCSC, with former Lion named Pedro David Bazan, Jeremy Chatelain (Jets to Brazil, Cub Country), Regia's Louis Schefano, Jenny and Lee Waters of Work Clothes, and Seven Mary Three's Jason Ross (cumbersome choice, eh?).

The real kicker, though, is September 24's show at OCSC: Glorious Merge guitar poppers Ashley Stove play for the first time since 2001, joined by Victory Factory-- the new band of Pipe wildman Ron Liberti-- and Hundred Aires, the new bag of Mayflies USA frontman Adam Price. The Rosebuds and former Spatula guy Chuck Johnson join up for the Carolina cocktail. Nights devoted to karaoke and "Family Feud" (September 6 and 12, respectively) split up the rock nights, but all the cool kids will totally be scoping Rusted Root at the Cradle, anyway (Oh, snap!).

And, in the spirit of giving back, OCSC will donate a portion of all September profits to the MusiCares Foundation. [MORE...]

Mclusky Dudes Return as Future of the Left

Following the break-up of short-lived but much-loved Welsh trio Mclusky, former frontman Andy Falkous is going back to the future, embarking on a new project with ex-Mclusky drummer Jack William Egglestone and bassist/vocalist Kelson Louis Tregurtha Mathias. (I'm loving these Welsh prep school boy names!). Falkous plays guitar and provides vocals for the Cardiff-based trio, who came together originally last year as a quartet and call themselves Future of the Left.

Future of the Left has posted a few demos on their MySpace, where they've described themselves as "beholden to loud rock music." Expect them to rock loudly at a smattering of shows around the UK this September, beginning tonight.

09-01 London, England - Monarch
09-02 Brighton, England - Engine Rooms
09-08 Southampton, England - Joiners Arms
09-09 Bath, England - Moles
09-10 Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach

As for other Mclusky members, ex-bassist Jon Chapple recently put out an album with Shooting at Unarmed Men (for which he handles guitar/vocals), while ex-ex-drummer Mat Harding is lending his stick skills to kooky Cornish band Bugga.

Polyphonic Spree Announce EP, Tour

Twenty-six singing and dancing robers come up to you, chanting the words "REACH FOR THE SUN!" Of course, you cough up that wallet...to grab some dollars for a Polyphonic Spree ticket, that is!!

The exuberant pop troupe/cult have announced their first U.S. tour in over a year. The majority of the trek will see the Spree showing up frat-favorite headliner Matisyahu, though for a few days, they'll top the bill, supported by Good Records (chief Spreeman Tim DeLaughter's label) acts Philip E Karnats and Pilotdrift.

The Spree spent early 2006 recording their third album, The Fragile Army, in studios across the country, including Steve Albini's Electrical Audio in Chicago. Co-produced by the pAper chAse's John Congleton and the Speekers (DeLaughter and fellow Spreester Julie Doyle), the disc is slated to arrive in early 2007 after numerous delays.

Can't stand the...wait? The Spree's got yr back: they'll release the iTunes digital exclusive Wait EP this Tuesday, September 5. Featuring two Army tracks and covers of tunes by Nirvana ("Lithium"), the Psychedelic Furs ("Love My Way"), and DeLaughter's former band, Tripping Daisy ("Sonic Bloom"), the collection should sate fans' appetites until whenever that album finally comes out. [MORE...]

WOXY Pulls the Plug

This just in from the "totally sucks" desk: citing financial difficulties, beloved Cincinnati radio institution WOXY announced this week that it will cease operations after a final broadcast on September 15.

For those who grew up savoring the station's unique alternative format on FM since its inception in 1983, to those who caught wind when WOXY went web in 1998 (and web-only in 2004), to anyone seeking a music choice outside the corporate mainstream, the news is very sad indeed.

"This is the moment all of us hoped would never come," wrote station representatives in an official statement. "After plugging away at this for the past two years, it's become pretty clear that operating woxy.com as a stand-alone Internet "radio station" is not going to cut it. Our operating costs are higher than you might think, and the revenue we were able to generate from advertising isn't close to supporting what we're doing. Even membership revenue wasn't enough to get us there. When your business doesn't make money, you eventually go out of business."

They continued, "A radio station is only as big as its listeners make it. We're not BS-ing when we say that you guys, our supporters, are the most amazing people on the planet. THANK YOU. The dedication and enthusiasm you've shown for what we do is staggering and inspiring. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to become a member, generously made a contribution, emailed (spammed) your friends, spread the gospel of woxy.com and-- most of all-- listened."

Read the entire farewell statement on woxy.com.

And while all seems dire, a glimmer of hope remains: last time WOXY was in serious jeopardy (after its FM broadcast license was sold in 2004), a pair of mysterious anonymous investors appeared in the 11th hour to bankroll the station's new web format-- these miracles don't happen twice, but if anyone deserves another break, it's WOXY. So if you're some chump kid who just inherited daddy's millions, sell the fleet of Hummers and save one of the nation's most respected radio stations. Please. Do it for the karma. Do it for the kids.

Tribe Called Quest Return, Tour With Rhymefest

Eight years after their breakup, A Tribe Called Quest have announced a quest called the 2K Sports Bounce Tour. We jest not-- Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad have reunited for the sake of a basketball video game. Joining Tribe for this jaunt is lovable Chicago MC Rhymefest and L.A. crew the Procussions.

According to a press release, Tribe's Phife will appear as a playable character in NBA 2K7, a fact which sealed the deal on the reunion tour.

In addition, the game will feature an exclusive Dan the Automator remix of Tribe's "Lyrics to Go", alongside new, basketball-centric tracks from tourmate Rhymefest, Ghostface Killah, Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, E-40, Fabolous, Hieroglyphics, and more. If you don't have the fifty-odd bones required to purchase the game, snap up the soundtrack, Dan the Automator Presents 2K7, hitting shelves September 19. [MORE...]

David Yow Talks Scratch Acid Reunion

As previously reported, the much-missed Austin noise rock outfit Scratch Acid will reunite this month for a few shows. It all started when Scratch's one-time home Touch and Go Records announced that the long-broken-up quartet-- featuring David Yow and David Sims, who would go on to help form the Jesus Lizard-- would play the label's 25th anniversary block party. Right now the reunion stands at three dates, with a show in Austin this weekend and a Seattle date post-T&G fest, but the question remains: could this thing develop into a more scathing, less heart-warming equivalent of that Pixies globe-trotting reunion tour?

Pitchfork could only hope so when we spoke with Scratch frontman Yow over the phone recently. Unfortunately, the hope didn't last long. From his home in Los Angeles, Yow confirmed that the three shows will most likely be the entirety of the reunion. When asked what prompted Scratch to reconvene at all, Yow explained, "It's all because of the Touch and Go celebration. And we just figured that it's not fair to play in Chicago and not play Austin." He went on to admit, "It was pretty tough getting me to agree." [MORE...]

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)