Decemberists Go Orchestral at Hollywood Bowl

A few weeks ago, Pitchfork reader Andrea Gutierrez informed us that she had received the season program for the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. On that program was a listing for a July 7 performance by the Decemberists with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Whoa! Is it true? Indeed it is. Following in the footsteps of Belle and Sebastian, who performed with the Philharmonic at the Bowl last summer, Colin Meloy and co. will have the privilege of debuting brand new orchestral arrangements of their songs at the legendary open-air venue.

As if that wasn't awesome enough, Band of Horses will open the show.

The best part? Future Decemberists performances with orchestral accompaniment are in the works for later in the year.

As previously reported, the Decemberists' first DVD, A Practical Handbook, is due out on Kill Rock Stars on March 20. The day after that, the band kicks off a North American tour with My Brightest Diamond. They're currently rocking the pantaloons off Europe.

And if you haven't already, do check out the extended version of the "O Valencia!" video featured in Forkcast last week. It rules. [MORE...]

Video: The Decemberists: O Valencia! (Director's Cut) [from The Crane Wife LP]

Lily Allen Designs Clothes, Tours North America (Again)
Gwen Stefani, you have met your match

A typical Lily Allen dress may bear a suspicious resemblance to a re-stitched tablecloth, but that won't stop the British singer from designing her very own clothing line: "Lily Loves". According to The Guardian, fashion chain New Look will debut the collection on May 9 in 312 of its stores worldwide. "Lily Loves" will include six dresses, two pairs of shoes, and various accessories, according to an NME.com report.

Lily Allen will begin her previously reported European tour dates on February 27 in Brussels. She will then return to the U.S. for South by Southwest and a whole new batch of North American dates. [MORE...]

Stream: Lily Allen: LDN [from the Alright, Still LP]

Exclusive: Asobi Seksu Prep 7", Reissues
Oh yeah, they're also touring with...the Ataris?!

NYC dreampoppers Asobi Seksu are partnering with labels left and right. They will release a previously reported 7" on Gigantic Music in April featuring a new song, "Stay Awake" and a studio version of their cover of the Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me".

That single will kick off a series of limited edition vinyl on Gigantic, and it will feature a gatefold sleeve with artwork by Sean McCabe (also responsible for designing both of Asobi Seksu's albums).

Speaking of those albums, One Little Indian will release 2004's Asobi Seksu and 2006's Citrus in Europe this summer, both boasting bonus material. The band will support the releases with a European summer tour.

Tonight in Philadelphia, Asobi Seksu kick off a tour supporting, why not, every middle-schooler's favorite boys of summer, the Ataris. Hey, if they can convince just one mohawked thirteen-year-old to check out the Slowdive discography, their work here is done. [MORE...]

MP3: Asobi Seksu: Then He Kissed Me [from the Spaceland Presents Asobi Seksu Live at the Echo LP]

The Ponys and Black Lips Tour

Sloppy-punk garage rawk bands the Ponys and the Black Lips will bond over their similarities on a previously announced tour of the U.S. next month. The Ponys are hitting the road the road in support of their forthcoming Turn the Lights Out (March 20, Matador), and the Black Lips in support of the live record Los Valientes del Mundo Nuevo (out today on Vice).

The bands will spend some time apart as well. Tonight, the Ponys launch a short UK/Euro stint with a gig in London. They'll return to North America in March for a series of springtime shows, several of which are with Deerhunter, including a stop at the Pitchfork Music Festival/Windish Agency SXSW day party at Emo's/Emo's Jr. on March 16.

The Black Lips play their hometown of Atlanta tonight, and London a whopping six times in the coming weeks.

In other Ponys news, Turn the Lights Out marks the third entry into Matador's Buy Early Get Now pre-order promotion. Those committing to the album before it comes out will receive some special gifts: a stream of the new LP, an exclusive B-side (the intriguingly titled "Festival Ghost"), and an exclusive download of an EP's worht of tracks recorded at Chicago's Schubas Tavern on January 12 of this year. (Hey, that show sounds familiar...) An exclusive poster designed by Melissa Elias is also up for grabs while supplies last. [MORE...]

MP3: The Ponys: Double Vision [from the Turn the Lights Out LP]
Video: The Black Lips: Stranger (Live) [from the Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo LP]

The Young Knives Bring Voices to U.S.

The Young Knives will release Voices of Animals and Men in the U.S. via Rykodisc today, February 20. It was originally released in the UK on Transgressive last year.)

The band will play one show on February 26 in London before kicking off their U.S. tour in Philadelphia on March 1. After a busy South by Southwest, they will return to the UK (and Austria!) for another full month of shows. [MORE...]

MP3: The Young Knives: Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer) [from the Voices of Animals and Men LP]

Joanna Newsom Preps EP, Tours Europe

And we all thought Bruce Springsteen only influenced dude-rock bands like the Hold Steady and the Killers. But no, His Bossness' magic even infiltrates the enchanted forest where pixies like Joanna Newsom hang out!

Newsom is preparing an EP to be released on Drag City in April titled... Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band. Ba dum dum!

The three-song set, performed by Newsom and, yes, her touring band, will include one new track and new versions of songs from both The Milk-Eyed Mender and Ys. No word yet on a concrete release date or an exact tracklist, unfortunately.

Newsom has also added a few dates to her world tour in support of Ys. She'll head to Europe in April, leading up to a performance at All Tomorrow's Parties at the end of the month. [MORE...]

Video: Joanna Newsom: Sprout and the Bean [from the Milk-Eyed Mender LP]

Andrew W.K. = The Next Tony Robbins?
Motivational speaking, scavenger hunting, pep rallying, playing bass with Current 93, putting out an LP on Load Records...what doesn't this guy do?

Andrew W.K. will take his inspirational messages of partying hard, living in the red, and savoring the moment to New York City's Peoples Improv Theater (the PIT) for a three-night speaking engagement on March 12, 19, and 26.

The talks-- titled "The Joy Trilogy"-- are billed on the club's website as "free-form soulsearching," and "participants are encouraged...to come with their minds wide and high."

Emphasis on the "high."

Andrew W.K. has a few other non-musical engagements as well. On March 6, he will get his nerd on as a guest at the PIT's "Comic Book Club". He also has two appearances scheduled at South by Southwest on March 16. The first is at a seminar he will give, titled "Andrew W.K.: Party for Life: Live Lecture and Discussion About Pure Fun and Total Love". The second is as the host of the "Mess With Texas" scavenger hunt.

Then, on May 5, he will kick off the Bamboozle festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey with a pep rally.

Fans of Andrew W.K.'s music will have to content themselves with his show tonight at Harpers Ferry in Allston, Massachusetts (read: Boston) as part of the "Throwed" dance party. In addition to a live performance, he will also DJ, along with Chris Devlin of the Spank Rock posse.

Tonight's show, however, is not the only musical performance he has scheduled. He will also play bass with Current 93 in Europe this spring, including dates at the Donau Festival in April and at ATP vs. the Fans in May.

For those who don't need to sleep after reading all of that (like we do), Providence noise label Load Records will release a limited U.S. edition of last year's Close Calls With Brick Walls on double colored vinyl. Load will release the record on June 19, and it comes with an eight-page, full-color, 11" x 11" booklet as well as five previously unreleased bonus tracks. Since Brick Walls has yet to see a U.S. release on CD, this is especially good news.

Stream: Andrew W.K.: Various Tracks

Jesu Postpone Start of North American Tour
Obviously, U.S. Immigration has no respect for extreme metal legends

Though Jesu's Conqueror was released via Hydra Head today, the band will not appear on the first part of their previously reported tour with Isis due to work visa issues. Justin K. Broadrick and co. have just secured the visas and will make their U.S. debut on March 5 in Orlando.

Jesu bassist Diarmuid Dalton will not play with the band on any dates, but Broadrick discography nerds will recognize the name of his replacement: Dave Cochrane. Cochrane has worked with Broadrick previously in Ice, Head of David, Sweet Tooth, God, and Grey Machine (their newest collaboration). Intronaut drummer Danny Walker will replace Ted Parsons at the kit. Parsons is unable to make the tour due to family commitments.

Jesu's revised tour schedule is below. [MORE...]

MP3: Jesu: Conqueror [from the Conqueror LP]

Man Man Announce Spring Tour

According to Man Man's MySpace, the follow-up to Six Demon Bag is "well underway," and they're currently recording in Chicago.

The band will take a break from recording to hit the road this Spring. And when Man Man tour, they tour hard. The dates they have scheduled start March 15 and don't let up until April 15.

There's also a one-off show this weekend in St. Louis.

Thanks to reader Jamie Young for the tip. [MORE...]

Video: Man Man: Engwish Bwood [from the Six Demon Bag LP]

Sonic Youth, Slint to Play ATP's Don't Look Back

All Tomorrow's Parties' Don't Look Back series, in which artists perform seminal albums live in their entirety, has announced the first shows of its 2007 season. On August 22, a reunited (for now) Slint will play 1991's Spiderland at the Koko in London, like they'll do at the Primavera Sound Festival earlier in the summer.

Then on August 31, Sonic Youth will play 1988's Daydream Nation at London's Roundhouse. Finally, the slightly more obscure House of Love will play their 1988 self-titled Creation Records debut at Koko on September 13.

Oh No! Oh My! Tour, Plan Dim Mak EP

Austin's Oh No! Oh My! are currently in the midst of an American tour, and given their track record for associating with smut peddlers, all we can say is that these shows had better be 18+.

The boys will also drop The Jolly Rogers EP later this year via Dim Mak. It was recorded prior to their self-titled, self-released debut, and those who purchased Oh No! Oh My! for cheap on CD-R way back when may have scored it for free already, lucky ducks. [MORE...]

MP3: Oh No! Oh My!: Jane Is Fat

Eluvium Releases Copia, Tours

Matthew Cooper releases Copia, his fourth Eluvium full-length, via Temporary Residence today, February 20.

The record eschews the guitars he has used on previous records for a more symphonic sound, and it makes the morning commute quite a bit more pleasant as well.

Eluvium will tour with Explosions in the Sky for the majority of the year, starting March 5 at Emo's in Austin, Texas. [MORE...]

MP3: Eluvium: Prelude for Time Feelers [from the forthcoming Copia LP]

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.)