New Pornographers Tour for Mint Records Anniversary

With Mission of Burma on porno duty, the New Pornographers are free to concentrate on other artistic endeavors. How about some tour?

As part of Exclaim! Magazine's and Mint Records' recently announced 15th Anniversary Roadshow, Carl Newman and his crew (and Canadian labelmates Novillero and Immaculate Machine, for the most part) will take on the wild indoors of clubs across Canada this October. In support of the jaunt, Mint will release a collection of live CBC Radio 3 sessions from its artists (New Pornos, Neko Case, P:ano, and more). For now, the disc will only be available on tour and in select HMV stores across Canada.

First off, however, the Pornos have a stint lined up at Baltimore's Virgin Festival, as well as an October 7 "A Conversation With Music" session with The New Yorker's James Surowiecki at NYC's Newspace.

Finally, there will be a Mint showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon this fall, with a possible DJ set by Newman. [MORE...]

DeSoto Preps Children’s Comp, Jawbox Reissues

Here at Pitchfork World Headquarters, we love hearing from long lost friends (note: as long as they're not, you know, telling us about their shitty band's new record), especially when they're part of the DeSoto Records crew.

So, because DS head woman (and former Jawbox bassist) Kim Coletta was kind enough to take some time out of her busy day and prepare a massive update about DeSoto's latest rumblings-- including a new children's compilation, Jawbox reissues, a split from the Life and Times, Channels' debut, and more-- we thought we'd pay that kindness forward.

So, yes, another kiddie comp is near ready to hit the market-- and this one doesn't exactly feature the usual children's music suspects. Titled Play, the compilation collects new kid's tunes crafted at Coletta's behest by Soccer Team (Beauty Pill's Ryan Nelson and DeSoto's Melissa Quinley), Supersuckers, Mudhoney, Mary Timony, Georgie James (former Q and Not U drummer John Davis and Laura Burhenn), Channels with Damon Locks, the Cassettes, Ben Davis, Mirah with Tara Jane O'Neil, Sgt. Major, Mock Orange, Visqueen, Anna Oxygen, and Fresh Young Fellows. Yep, all of these people could kick Raffi’s ass. The recording will be available this fall through DeSoto's mailorder and as a digital download (the latter comes with a downloadable DIY booklet).

Next up, Jawbox reissues, and a two for one special at that! We love good deals! DeSoto will make a pair of out-of-print major label Jawbox releases-- For Your Own Special Sweetheart (1994) and Jawbox (1996)-- available again soon through iTunes and other music download stores, with the label providing downloadable booklets on their website. [MORE...]

Mission of Burma Tour Diary, Part Six

As the legendary Mission of Burma make their way down the West Coast on a week-long trek, guitarist Roger Miller shares his tour diary with Pitchfork. Stay tuned for daily entries ("Of course, it depends a bit on free WiFi," Miller says.)

Here's part six, in which Burma heads to Sacramento and covers Flipper.

Read part five here.
Read part four here.
Read part three here.
Read part two here.
Read part one here.

---

Tuesday, September 19: "To Sacramento"

After coffee we drove an hour to the Hi-Lo restaurant in Weed, CA. Bob swore we had to eat there, and his swearing bore fruit: great grub. All satisfied and satiated (blackberry compote? cherry pie?), we piled back into the van. SF Sorrow (by the Pretty Things) was the soundtrack as we drove past Mt. Shasta and southward. Interesting how right at the California border the flora changes from Northwest rainforest to coastal sage scrub-- it's rare that botanists are in charge of state lines, but, hey, this is the U.S., where reason prevails.

They seem to have these things all over the U.S. [MORE...]

Beck and Devendra Are Friends
The Matt and Lance of indie!

Well lookee here, it's one of Beck's new press photos in support of his forthcoming album, The Information, due out October 3. And who's that lurking right behind Mr. Hansen in Autumn de Wilde's shot? Why it's Devendra Banhart, of course.

Although D-Ban doesn't play on The Information, he does appear in the video for "Cell Phone's Dead", which was directed by Michel Gondry, and is probably awesome.

Minutes after this photo was taken, Beck and Dev stripped down to their shorts and took a jog along the Pacific Coast Highway, muscles rippling in the sunshine and hair blowing in the breeze.

PJ Harvey to Release Peel Sessions Collection

PJ Harvey's power is best experienced live and raw, and who better captured that energy than John Peel? The magic of the relationship between the artist and the legendary DJ will be unleashed upon the masses with the release of PJ Harvey - The Peel Sessions 1991-2004, due via Island Records in conjunction with the BBC on October 23 in the UK.

The due date falls during a month of commemorative events honoring the second anniversary of Peel's death.

Louise Kattenhorn, Peel's former producer, said in a press release, "John loved the sessions and was thrilled to have Polly record so many for his show. He considered her a wonderful artist and they were great friends."

The collection includes tracks spanning from early versions of Polly Jean's 1992 debut, Dry, to her most recent LP, 2004's Uh Huh Her. [MORE...]

John Zorn Receives "Genius" Grant

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the 25 recipients of the 2006 MacArthur Fellowships-- aka the "genius" grants-- yesterday, and John Zorn was among them. The experimental musician, composer, and head of Tzadik Records will receive $500,000 over a period of five years, to be used however he sees fit. We would like to suggest he invest in the technology to revive Coltrane, Miles, and Mingus for a pizza party, or at least buy us all copies of the new Ornette Coleman record.

El Perro del Mar, Vetiver Play Solid Music Fest
Plus Final Fantasy, Quintron & Miss Pussycat

Not all good festivals happen in outdoor parks in the summertime. Some happen in Turkish wedding halls in Germany in the fall, like the first-ever Solid Arts and Music Festival.

Featuring music from Final Fantasy, Vetiver, El Perro del Mar, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, XBXRX, Adem, and more, the two-day event also includes an art exhibition, poetry, and performance.

"We started this spring to curate two evenings of music in a Turkish wedding hall...in Berlin Kreuzberg," the festival coordinators explained, "Why? Because we were bored, seriously. In the beginning it was just about two evenings of music we love-- challenging, interesting, passionate artists from all over the place. And then we also started to invite artists for a little exhibition in the venue nearby...and a little beautiful thing started."

The little beautiful thing takes place September 29 and 30 at Festsaal-Kreuzberg and the West Germany Gallery.

Ben Gibbard, Vanderslice Play Rogue Wave Benefit
So do Nada Surf, Guster

With Ben Gibbard, Lemony Snicket, much gusto (and a little Guster), Rogue Wave is hosting a big ol' benefit show to raise money for RW drummer Pat Spurgeon, who is in need of a kidney transplant. Taking place on September 30 at the Independent in San Francisco, the concert will feature performances by Rogue Wave, Gibbard, Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Ryan Miller (Guster), John Vanderslice, and others, plus emceeing by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket).

Spurgeon, who is currently awaiting an organ donor, faces an enormous amount of medical costs. According to an official press release, "Pat was born with one kidney and it failed. He had his first transplant in 1993, which served him well until now. After 13 years, it has started to deteriorate. He has been on dialysis since April and is hoping to find a donor. Some of [his] friends have gotten tested to see if they are a match, but Pat has yet to hear good news. Provided he finds a donor...the expenses will be huge."

Friends of Spurgeon are raising money to cover his care and bills while in recovery, as well as the costs of a donor (travel, bills, care, lost work wages, etc.). If you'd like to donate to the cause, you can do so here. [MORE...]

Video: Bonnie "Prince" Billy: "Strange Form of Life" (Live on Conan)

As previously reported, it was TIME TO PARTY last night on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien", as Bonnie "Prince" Billy performed "Strange Form of Life" from his brand new album The Letting Go. He was backed by a band consisting of brother Paul Oldham, Superwolf partner Matt Sweeney, Jim White, and, on grand piano, Andrew WK.

AWK didn't get much face time, though we did notice that he's cleaned up real good, with short(er) hair, a nice purple shirt, and dress pants. He also dominated the post-performance Conan chat-down, probably because Will Oldham creeped Conan out with his "dance" moves.

YouTube clip courtesy of Idolator. Be warned: it goes on a bit after the performance is over, so you might inadvertently find yourself watching some extremely unfunny sketch comedy.

Brian Wilson Plays Pet Sounds With Jardine
Scritti Politti opens one date, tours North America

While he may have ditched the in-house sandbox, that Brian Wilson still knows how to party! And to prove it, the Beach Boys mastermind has announced a batch of special concert performances this fall celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band's legendary Pet Sounds. You know, the one with the goats.

Following last month's lavish 2xCD reissue of the 1960s masterpiece, Wilson and his current backing band will play Pet Sounds in its glorious entirety on a short string of November dates (five U.S. and one UK). The trek kicks off November 1 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, and according to Wilson's website, the London gig will mark the last time Wilson ever plays Pet Sounds in the UK.

And while seeing one of pop's most respected legends performing one of pop's most respected albums (which happens to be home to "God Only Knows", the Pitchfork staff's recent vote for greatest song of the 60s) isn't too shabby in itself, the shows will also provide a special treat for longtime fans, as none other than original Beach Boy Al Jardine (who lent his pipes to the album's heart-tugging "I Know There's an Answer") is scheduled to perform alongside Wilson during four of the six scheduled gigs. [MORE...]

Video: Final Fantasy: "He Poos Clouds" and "Fantasy (Mariah Carey cover)"

Owen Pallett is serious about this fantasy stuff, and the Polaris Prize winner takes it even further in these two videos, one a Jesse Ewles-directed video for "He Poos Clouds" and the other a live performance of Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" (get it?) at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill.

The "He Poos Clouds" clip has Pallett staring into a zoetrope (see above) watching some kind of warrior battle pastel monsters. But he seems to want this to be one of those videos split between concept and live performance, as he also picks up his violin every once in a while to bow a lick or two.

The second video is pretty self-explanatory, though no less strange for it. Pallett-- alone on stage-- layers his violin to cheers of gradual recognition and then belts it out like a diva. It's only a matter of time until his Glitter.
(Thanks to reader Charles Gunn for showing us this clip.)

"He Poos Clouds":



"Fantasy":

Ladytron Kick off Tour With CSS

Liverpudlian electro-poppers Ladytron mean what they say when they announce a North American tour. Not only will the quartet play shows in the U.S. and Canada, they also have a trio of dates in Mexico. Now that's commitment.

Ladytron come correct with CSS in tow tonight at Miami's Studio A, and they won't stop until the beginning of December, by which time they also will have played in Poland and South America.

Speaking of which, CSS have quite a few of their own post-Ladytron dates, including a European tour with the Rogers Sisters. All of these cosmopolitan dance rockers put the itineraries of most other bands to shame, and we can't say we're surprised.

Ladytron also contributed a remix of Cities' "Writing on the Wall" to the Cities remix EP Variations, due out October 3 on Yep Roc. [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.)