Mates of State Launch Tour With Asobi Seksu

Mates of State have expanded their previously announced tour with Asobi Seksu. In addition to tacking on a few extra dates with the Brooklyn four-piece, the pair-- who just wrapped up a hefty overseas trek with We Are Scientists-- have announced two New Year's Eve party-gigs going down at NYC's Knitting Factory. [MORE...]

MP3: Mates of State: Think Long [from the Bring It Back LP]

MP3: The Shins: "Phantom Limb"

Remember that Shins track that we told you about when it was streaming on their MySpace page? Well, now you can download it from Sub Pop's website. Just to let you know.

Shins! New shit! Wincing the Night Away! In stores January 23! Cop that shit! (Gunshot noises)

MP3: The Shins: Phantom Limb [from the forthcoming Wincing the Night Away LP]

Premiere: Video: The Blow: "Parentheses"
Also, the Blow tour Australia, hit French college radio

Now that the Blow have started to get the recognition they deserve, they've upgraded from a Paper Television to the real thing.

In the pair's latest video, for the Paper Television track "Parentheses", Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt take on some drunken nighttime karaoke while watching TV. Instead of singing, however, they perform a hilarious alcohol-induced hug-happy dance.

[MORE...]

MP3: Various Artists: Music By Friends for the Radio in France [full radio compilation]

Stream: Bloc Party: "The Prayer"

Welcome to A Weekend in the City; it begins with a "Prayer": "Lord give me grace/ And dancing feet/ And the power to impress/ Let me outshine the moon," Kele Okereke begs, on this, the fourth track from Bloc Party's forthcoming album, due out February 6, 2007 on Vice.

Okereke's pleas are backed by monk-ish backing chants reminiscent of his band's breakout single "Banquet", as well as stomping and clapping that begins as if in a schoolyard but slowly mutates, without changing at all, into something more martial. Bell-like keyboards ping off of the chorus ("Tonight make me unstoppable!") and an abrasive guitar solo cuts through it all like a blinding light.

The muddy sound quality on this stream leaves a lot to be desired, but trust me on this: it isn't just one of the best songs on the album. It's one of the best songs Bloc Party's ever written.

Stream: Bloc Party: The Prayer [from the forthcoming A Weekend in the City LP]

Constantines Launch North American Tour

And the Tournament of Hearts continues. The Constantines are once again gearing up to shoot the moon across North America.

Tonight, the Toronto quintet launch their latest trek at Philly's North Star Bar. They will forge on through early December (note the CARE Canada benefit at Lee's Palace), break for an extended holiday, and pick things up again in late January. Along the way they'll support the Hold Steady and the Tragically Hip, a couple of bands that various populations like to claim are "totally the best band out there right now" (music critics and Canadians, respectively). [MORE...]

MP3: The Constantines: Soon Enough [from the Tournament of Hearts LP]

Chavez Cancel Shows Due to "Roughhousing Mishap"

Chavez's joyous little quartet of post-Better Days Will Haunt You reunion shows has been narrowed to a pair. Their dates in Baltimore and Chicago have been canceled because "Matt [Sweeney] broke his hand in a roughhousing mishap," according to Matador.

There are "no plans as of now to reschedule the other shows, but it's possible. They were bummed." Dudes, so are we. [MORE...]

MP3: Chavez: The Guard Attacks/Unreal Is Here [from the Better Days Will Haunt You reissue]

Aereogramme Prep New LP; Share Exclusive MP3

The last release from Glasgow's Aereogramme was an In the Fishtank collaboration with intelli-metal gods Isis. And their new album is titled after a quote from The Exorcist (the book).

So should we expect something nice n' scary from the LP, titled My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go, and due in North America on February 6, 2007 via Sonic Unyon Records (and on Chemikal Underground in the UK)?

Well, no.

From the sound of "Barriers", the album's first single (available for exclusive download below) REMOVED, it seems Aereogramme are headed into dangerous Coldplay/Snow Patrol waters. It's a sprawling legato, lushly orchestrated and romantic, without a hint of menace.

"Barriers" (with B-side "Dissolve") is slated for a UK-only release. A video for "Barriers" is in the works from animator Huge Cuellar.

UPDATE: "Barriers" has been replaced by "Nightmares" at the request of Chemikal Underground. It's a bombastic creeper, pushing forward on a sludgy underbelly and spiky, gothic strings. Now that's what I'm talking about! 

Aereogramme's third full length was produced by the band and Martin Doherty. It was recorded at Glasgow's 4th Street Studios.

A North American tour, Aereogramme's first in four years, is in the works for Spring 2007. But first they'll hit the UK and Europe. [MORE...]

MP3: Aereogramme: Nightmares [from the forthcoming My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go LP]

Coachella Sets 2007 Dates, Announces Country Festival

One weekend a year, the California desert is packed with sweaty fans of the latest and greatest in indie and alt-rock, hip hop, and electronic music, as the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival takes over Indio's Empire Polo Field. In 2007, come extra prepared for the triple-digit-degree weather, because the fest has expanded its schedule; taking cues from Lollapalooza, it will run over a three-day weekend, spanning from April 27-29.

But that's not all the news for next year. Billboard.com reports that Coachella promoters Goldenvoice will kick off a currently untitled country music festival, also in Empire Polo Field, the following weekend, May 5-6.

Artists scheduled to perform at the event include Emmylou Harris, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Lucinda Williams, Sugarland, Nickel Creek, Ricky Skaggs, Earl Scruggs, and Sparrow Quarter featuring Béla Fleck. Four stages, most notably "outlaw" and "storytelling" areas, will be erected for the party, with Garrison Keillor and Texas poet Red Steagall performing on the latter.

Coachella, as has become tradition, will keep us in the dark with regard to its lineup until late January or early February. According to Billboard, so far, only Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela have confirmed their participation.

Mr. Lif Kicks off Tour With the Coup

Def Jukie Mr. Lif begins a North American tour alone tonight in Calgary. That's gotta be lonely. Fortunately, three days later, the Coup will join him for most dates before two straggling shows in February. Also joining them for a show apiece: Common Market, and, um, Matisyahu.

According to the Coup's MySpace page, MC Boots Riley is currently working on an album with Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello. The project is called Street Sweeper. [MORE...]

MP3: Mr. Lif: The Fries (Abdul Malik remix) [online]

Photos: Shellac [Minneapolis, MN; 11/18/06]

Ghostface Joins Rock the Bells Tour

Rock the Bells is one of the country's premiere hip-hop festivals. And starting today, November 21, it becomes one of the country's premiere hip-hop tours, with a month-long cross country trek launching tonight in Washington, D.C.

Our man Ghostface Killah has been added as one of the lineup's key performers; he's touring in support of his forthcoming album More Fish, due out December 12 on Def Jam. His buddy Raekwon, Redman, Boot Camp Clik's Smif-N-Wessun, Supernatural, and DJ Kool will all appear on every date of the tour, and Ghost, Dirty Heads, Pharoahe Monch, and even EPMD will join them at select shows.

Previously announced act Keith Murray, however, will not be on the tour, due to "unforeseen circumstances," according to a press release. [MORE...]

Stream: Ghostface Killah: Good [from the forthcoming More Fish LP]

Photos: Sufjan Stevens [Reykjavik, Iceland; 11/17/06]

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