Pitchfork: Le Tigre Member Revamps Hair Salon

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The holiday weekend is nearly upon us, and funeral-ready Band of Horses can't wait to celebrate-- with a laborious undertaking. While the rest of this country relaxes and BBQs, these workhorses will be saddling up for an impressive 29-date trek that kicks off Monday in Minneapolis; note the new additions to their itinerary since we last reported. Fellow Sub-Popper Chad VanGaalen and L.A.-based rockers Simon Dawes will lend support for much of the tour (the latter band will be present for all of it, actually). In fact, SD members Taylor Goldsmith and Blake Mills will give their pony headliners more than just a warm welcome-- these little helpers are playing IN BoH for the entire ride. Gold star for sharing, dudes! [MORE...]

MP3: Band of Horses: The Funeral [Infinite Mixtape #2]

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in tour on Fri: 09-01-06: 10:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Man Man Launch Tour Tour, Prep Vinyl Vinyl

Like James Brown said (kind of), it's a man's man's world, and Philadelphia/New York kitchen sink rockers Man Man will continue their personal quest for world domination through incessant touring, kicking off a jaunt tomorrow night in their hometown. From there, they'll trek across the entire U.S. and even make a stop in Vancouver, playing with quite a few recent P4k favorites along the way, including the Thermals, Grizzly Bear, Asobi Seksu, and the Mountain Goats. In fact, they're playing with so many other bands that we've had to practically exhaust our symbols to list them all (yep, even the Euro got some play). Well done, Man Man. We'll see you on the road. Love, the world.

In other Man-tastic news, a certain Pitchfork advertising director's entrepreneurial aspirations have been thwarted, as Man Man have at last found a pair of labels to vinylize their output. This year's Six Demon Bag and 2004's The Man in the Blue Turban With a Face will finally get the wax treatment thanks to Tonearm Recordings and a mystery label-to-be-named, respectively. No word yet on release dates, but you should get excited anyway. [MORE...]

MP3: Man Man: Van Helsing Boombox [Infinite Mixtape #11]

Video: Man Man: Engwish Bwood

Posted by Dave Maher and Matthew Solarski in tour on Fri: 09-01-06: 09:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Merge Signs the Brokedown

Yeah, we know what you're thinking: "Who're those California boys standing on Merge Records' welcome mat?" To which we respond, "It's the Brokedown, and it's okay-- they're cool." Because hey, they're the newest addition to the Merge roster!

On January 23, 2007, Merge will release the Brokedown's debut LP, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On. The album was recorded over the course of a year with Raymond Richards at Red Rockets Glare studio.

The Brokedown will make their official Merge debut at the label's CMJ showcase in New York during the first weekend of November. Before the festival hits, however, the band will play a handful of East and West coast tour dates. Let's hope their tour van doesn't, er...nevermind. [MORE...]

MP3: The Brokedown: Down in the Valley

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in signing, tour, album on Fri: 09-01-06: 07:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Rhys Chatham's Essentialist Tours U.S.

Rhys Chatham loves him some guitar. In the past, the ambitious, avant garde musician has scored pieces for 100 guitars, and last year the city of Paris commissioned him to write a piece for 400 guitars. Now Chatham fans will be amped (ha) to learn he's channeling his guitar love into a Sunn 0)))/Earth/Sleep-inspired, pared-down heavy metal outfit called Essentialist.

As previously reported, Rhys Chatham's Essentialist-- featuring members of San Agustin and Jonathan Kane's February-- make their debut this weekend at the Table of the Elements Fest in Atlanta. From there, they'll head out on a two-week U.S. tour, culminating in an appearance at The Wire's Adventures in Modern Music Fest in Chicago.

So exactly how will this minimalist form of metal sound? A press release describes Chatham's new musical venture as "hallucinatory" and "mind-crushing." Expect an Essentialist debut album in early 2007 on Table of the Elements, and stay tuned for all the essential (groan) info. [MORE...]

MP3: Rhys Chatham: Guitar Trio

Posted by Laura Pearson in festival, tour on Fri: 09-01-06: 07:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Girl Talk Extends Fall Tour

Pull out the sleeping bags and toenail polish and s'mores, because it's Girl Talk time. Oh, wait-- we're talking Gregg Gillis and not Hasbro's electronic "That's So Raven" special edition game? Well, okay, but only because the former just expanded his upcoming North American (and now partially Australian) jaunt to meet normal trek-length standards instead of, um, not.

So start bumpin' the weekly Top 40 with Casey Kasem and prep yourselves for the mean, lean, tour-bound mash-up machine that is Pittsburgh's Girl Talk (the DJ).

Dates:

09-02 London, England - Shepherds Bush Empire *
09-09 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
09-16 New London, CT - I Am Festival
09-23 Houston, TX - Proletariat
10-06 Decatur, GA - Azul
10-07 New Orleans, LA - Shiloh #
10-12 Orlando, FL - Club at Firestone
10-13 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds ^
10-14 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder %
10-27 Toronto, Ontario - Spin Gallery
10-28 Ithaca, NY - Appel Commons
11-10 Portland, OR - Holocene
11-11 San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12-08 Melbourne, Australia - Meredith Music Festival
12-09 Melbourne, Australia - Order of Melbourne

* with Beck
# with Gravity A
^ with the Ettes
% with Man Man

MP3: Girl Talk: Smash Your Head [Infinite Mixtape #22]

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in tour on Fri: 09-01-06: 07:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Lady Sov, James Chance, Ellen Allien Play MEG Fest
Plus: Final Fantasy, Ghislain Poirier, Think About Life, ESG, Bell Orchestre, Hidden Cameras

Polish off those dance moves: The eighth annual MEG (Montreal Eclectic Groove) festival highsteps into Montreal this weekend (September 1-4). Held in conjunction with the previously reported Osheaga Festival, MEG's self-described as "four days of bare feet in the grass in celebration of the creation of modern music" and features an eclectic roster that is very groovy indeed. The live music extravaganza takes place in various venues around the city, including the legendary Club Savoy and the scenic Parc Jean Drapeau.

Sonic highlights include: Lady Sovereign, James Chance and the Contortions, Ellen Allien and Apparat, ESG, Bell Orchestre, Final Fantasy, Think About Life, We Are Wolves, Ghislain Poirier, the Hidden Cameras, Brazilian Girls, To Live and Shave in L.A., the White Mice, Bush Tetras, Zombie, Call Me Poupée, Kiss Me Deadly, Duchess Says, Why Alex, Why?, D*I*R*T*Y Soundsystem, and more. Lowlights include: Uffie.

MP3: Lady Sovereign: Love Me or Hate Me

Posted by Laura Pearson in festival on Fri: 09-01-06: 07:00 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Yo La Tengo Take Fearless Ass-Beating to the Streets

It's the wtf album title that's on the lips of everyone in indie-dom these days-- and now it's rolling off the tongues of random folks on the street and in offices: I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. To get the kids psyched for the September 12 release of their latest Matador LP, ketchup-ralliers Yo La Tengo have asked fans to share YouTube videos of them, their friends, their cats, and (seemingly) strangers on the street reciting the kooky, somewhat ass-inine declaration, with as much (or as little) feeling as they please. The band has ass-embled the first round of clips on their album website, which is, yes:

iamnotafraidofyouandiwillbeatyourass.com

What's more, it's not too late to have your own ass-whooping boast posted. For instructions, and to see who's beating ass these days, click the long-ass link above.

Among the current crop of ass-beaters: lovable comedian Aziz Ansari, who has said some other pretty funny stuff. We're scared:

They have it alright, and it is a ginormous tour of North America and Europe. Dates ahead. [MORE...]

MP3: Yo La Tengo: Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind

MP3: Yo La Tengo: Beanbag Chair

Posted by Matthew Solarski in wtf, video, misc. on Thu: 08-31-06: 05:00 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Video: M. Ward: "Chinese Translation"

Having already queried doctors, whippoorwills, and killer whales for romantic advice, M. Ward-- or at least his stubby, animated counterpart-- turns to an "old, old man" in the video for "Chinese Translation" (from his latest Merge longplayer, Post-War, which came out this week). The thoughtful piece was put together by directors Joel Trussell (responsible for Jason Forrest's kickass "War Photographer" vid) and Eric Johnson, animators Gene Blakefield and Darin Bendall, and assistant Chris Chua. Very autumn-appropriate.

Posted by Matthew Solarski in video on Thu: 08-31-06: 02:30 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Ariel Pink Plays Nowheresville
Bogalusa poised to become the "L.A." of LA

After being forced to cancel his European tour with Holy Shit (due to heightened airport security), Ariel Pink is heading deep-- way deep-- into the heart of the American South this weekend to play a show at Bogalusa, Louisiana's Centennial Year Music and Arts Celebration.

What brings L.A.-based Pink to rural Louisiana? Is this the beginning of some ironic backwoods tour? Actually, according to his publicist, the avant-artist is venturing to Bogalusa to help promote his step father's campaign for mayor. Because nothing wins votes like skinny dudes with long hair and art-damaged schizo-pop.

Pink headlines the Saturday, September 2 bill as the lone "rock and roll" act in a lineup of country, jazz, blues, gospel, and inspirational music. It's safe to assume the Centennial Celebration will be the only time he'll share the stage with the likes of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Choir or local gospel singer Gloria "Lori" Kates. According to the oh-so-charming Bogalusa Daily News, an L.A. film crew will capture the weekend's festivities, accompanying Pink to Louisiana in order to film a documentary about him. [MORE...]

MP3: Ariel Pink : Helen

Posted by Laura Pearson in wtf, festival, tour on Thu: 08-31-06: 01:45 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Touch and Go Adds Art Show to Fest
Also considering petting zoo, dunk tank, and little sausages on sticks

As if a whole weekend of quality live music weren't enough, Touch and Go just announced the icing on their 25th Anniversary birthday cake: an art show featuring works by 12 of the label's artists.

As previously reported, Touch and Go celebrates 25 years of record-releasing goodness with a three day festival (September 8-10) featuring scads of T&G bands at Chicago's Hideout's annual block party. Set times were announced earlier this week.

The art show will take place the week prior to the Block Party (September 4-8) at Chicago's Open End Gallery and feature paintings, sculpture, photographs, and etchings by the following way-too-talented people: Jon Langford (Mekons), Eric Bemis (Rico Bell/Mekons), Tim Kerr (Big Boys), Mick Turner (Dirty Three), Bianca Casady (CocoRosie), Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession), Tom Greenhaigh (Mekons), Tara Jane O'Neil, Sam Coomes (Quasi), Tim Harriss (Kepone), Jeff Mueller (Shipping News), and Jason Noble (Shipping News).

Video: Touch and Go Records: Anniversary Documentary

Posted by Laura Pearson in festival on Thu: 08-31-06: 01:00 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Drummer Departs Be Your Own Pet
Higher education nearly destroys another band

You can't be a Be Your Own Pet forever: not when there's stuff like colleges to attend, record labels to manage, and fraternal side projects to embrace. As announced on BYOP's Infinity Cat label website, drummer Jamin Orrall has left the youthful Nashville-based rockers to concentrate on his own pet pursuits. No word yet on who will replace him in BYOP.

Here's the official statement:

"Jamin Orrall has left the band Be Your Own Pet in order to focus on his family owned label, Infinity Cat as well as looking at colleges for the near future. However he is still staying musically active with the band he formed with his brother Jake, 'JEFF'."

The former fourpiece, now three, recently returned from a string of European festival dates and will still head out on a fall tour of North America on September 19. [MORE...]

Video: Be Your Own Pet: Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle

Posted by Laura Pearson in sideproject, breakup, tour on Thu: 08-31-06: 12:00 PM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

Exclusive: Hold Steady Launch Social Networking Site!
Makeoutclub.com now even more irrelevant

Watch your back, MySpace; y'all must've spited the Hold Steady somehow-- whether it was all the scantily clad photos of preteens or the irritating bulletin surveys or the friend requests from the shittiest of local bands that turned Craig Finn & Co. away, we'll never know. In fact, these anti-MySpace sentiments were likely fabricated by me for the purpose of developing a stellar intro paragraph. Regardless of their motivation, the Hold Steady are giving the 'Space a run for its money with their first-ever social networking website, appropriately domain'd www.BoysandGirlsinAmerica.com.

The page includes a video testimonial feature where viewers can talk about the band, likes and dislikes, life experiences, and more. In addition, there's a message board where the lads and lasses of America and elsewhere can discuss today's most important issues. Jeez we love these guys.

The website will see its official launch next week. And if around this time a thread pops up in the BaGiA forums reading,

"Posted: Thu Sep 7, 2006 4:20 pm

Post subject: Holy Hold Steady we love this album!

It totally rocks \m/"

don't be surprised. [MORE...]

MP3: The Hold Steady: Chips Ahoy!

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in exclusive, wtf, tour, album, misc. on Thu: 08-31-06: 11:30 AM CDT | Digg this article | Add to del.icio.us | Permalink

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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.)

Fri: 05-16-08: 08:00 AM CDT
Lou Reed to Host Weekly Satellite Radio Show