Exclusive: Mary Timony Band Tours Behind Shapes

In the school of indie rock, Mary Timony's got advanced degrees, having served time in Helium, Autoclave, and solo, and having put dissertations before the boards at Matador, Dischord, Lookout!, and soon, Kill Rock Stars.

Mary Timony's lastest-- as the Mary Timony Band, which includes Medications members Devin Ocampo on drums and Chad Molter on bass-- arrives May 8 via Timony's new home KRS. It's called The Shapes We Make, and features some studio wizardry courtesy of Ocampo (who produced), Jawbox's J. Robbins, and Mary herself. Watch Mary and Band defend this latest long-player on a series of U.S. dates beginning next month, with Joe Wong taking over for Ocampo on drums.

The Mary Timony Band's spring sojourn kicks off May 25 in Austin. Along the way, she'll be joined by the likes of some snotty freshmen like FatCat's Welcome, L.A. aviators Great Northern, angular-addicts the Joggers, and post-Q and Not U pop-savvy quartet Georgie James. [MORE...]

Frank Black Does Best Of, Plans LP as Black Francis
Tours Europe

Primary Pixie Frank Black will release his first "best of" compilation June 12 via Cooking Vinyl. Frank Black 93-03 will be a double-disc set covering material from 1993's self-titled solo debut through 2003's Catholics-supported disc Show Me Your Tears.

The first disc features 22 studio tracks in chronological order. The second is comprised of live versions recorded at late 2006 shows in Pittsburgh and Regina, Saskatchewan. Cooking Vinyl will release three different versions of the second disc, one each for the North American, European, and Japanese releases, and the European and Japanese versions of the compilation will come out June 4, a week before the North American edition.

Also featured on 93-03-- as a "hidden track" that will likely close out the first disc-- is a new song called "Threshold Apprehension", which is the first single from a forthcoming Frank Black album-- as Black Francis!-- titled Bluefinger. Black took inspiration for Bluefinger from 20th Century Dutch painter and musician Herman Brood, and he plans to release the album on Cooking Vinyl in September.

"Threshold Apprehension" will also have a separate single release outside of the compilation. It will be available for digital download May 7, and a limited edition 7"/digital download combo will make its way to indie rock fans on May 25.

Black and his band have a ton of European club and festival dates this summer, starting on June 15 in Interlaken, Switzerland. [MORE...]

Bat for Lashes Secures U.S. Release, NYC Show

British singer, songwriter, and multi- instrumentalist Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes, is coming to America. Granted, she only has one tour date scheduled, for May 1, in the Unites States' biggest city, but it seems American fans of her brand of dark, arty pop music will just have to take what they can get for now.

Those fans will get more than just a lone tour date in New York City, though, as Khan has inked a deal with Caroline Records to bring her enchanting little debut record, Fur & Gold, to the U.S. on July 31. Vinyl heads get it first, as a limited edition of Fur on LP arrives Stateside May 15 via Manimal Vinyl.

Khan's summer dates are still pretty substantial, thanks to the fact that she is playing about half of the hundreds of thousands of British festivals in existence. Or nine. [MORE...]

Califone, Andrew Bird, Kozelek on Trials Soundtrack
Plus: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, M. Ward, Dälek, Portastatic, Dead Prez, Ras Kass

Califone, Andrew Bird, Mark Kozelek, and Portastatic will contribute exclusive tracks to the forthcoming soundtrack for the HBO documentary The Trials of Darryl Hunt, alongside more familiar tunes from M. Ward and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

The soundtrack, out August 7 via Young American, also features hip-hoppers Dead Prez, Dälek, Ras Kass, and the Last Poets making headway within the rock-heavy lineup. And you thought you were the only one who thought Dead Prez and Califone nestle up nice on your mix CDs.

The Trials of Darryl Hunt-- featuring an original score by NYC songwriter Paul Brill-- documents Hunt's conviction of the murder of newspaper reporter Deborah Sykes, his two-decade long imprisonment, and eventual exoneration by DNA evidence. The film, which premiered last night on HBO, will receive a theatrical release this summer, and a DVD hits stores October 16 via THINKFilm. Net proceeds from the soundtrack's sale will go to the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice, which aims to protect wrongly convicted and imprisoned individuals like Hunt. [MORE...]

Photos: Bright Eyes [Omaha, NE; 04/26/07]

Photos by Paparazzi by Appointment

While Bright Eyes' big spring tour apparently got off to rocky/rockstar start in Milwaukee this past weekend-- with a visibly intoxicated Conor Oberst stumbling around the stage and haphazardly tossing his guitars and himself into the audience, according to numerous YouTube-corroborated reader reports-- it seems Conor found his footing for last night's gig in his Omaha hometown.

According to Laura at Paparazzi by Appointment, this show at the Holland Performing Arts Center went off without incident, featuring a full band and string section adorned in white, with specially-made projected visuals by local artist Joey Lynch. Bright Eyes' tour in support of the just-released Cassadaga (Saddle Creek) continues tomorrow in Denver.

YACHT to Play on Actual Yacht, Expands Tour
Train to play on actual train, but nobody cares

Yacht rock has never been better: Portland lo-fi electro-pop prince and Blow half Jona Bechtolt, aka YACHT, has delivered on his promise to rock an actual yacht in celebration of the release of I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real., out May 8 via Marriage Records.

On Cinco de Mayo-- known in some circles as May 5-- Bechtolt, his trusty skipper, and a cluster of lucky landlubbers will board the S.S. Crystal Dolphin (no joke) and cast off down PDX's Willamette River, destination: party time. No, but seriously, the destination is cooler than any old house party: it's the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI). I mean, indie dance party field trip, how sick is that?

Joining YACHT aboard the Crystal Dolphin are Bobby Birdman and the Juice Team DJs, while DJ Beyonda, E*Rock, and Thanksgiving's Adrian Orange (and the Child Slave Rebellion) will demonstrate the science of making your booty shake at the museum. YACHT performs at each unique locale, and part of his museum set will feature a live band.

While the rest of the irony/meta-hungry indie world is no doubt envious of this YACHT on yacht action, rest assured: YACHT might just be coming to a land-locked venue in your town. Dude's quest continues May 11 in San Francisco, and continues when he docks in L.A. May 12 for an Anticon-affiliated art opening at Unitard. It don't stop until he hits Japan in July.

In related news, YACHT thinks your Flickr page sux. (Thanks to alert reader Rob Jansen for the tip!) [MORE...]

Pumpkins, Modest Mouse, LCD Play U.S. Virgin Fest
Plus: TVotR, Interpol, YYYs, Peter Bjorn & John, Wu-Tang, M.I.A., Spoon, Girl Talk, Bad Brains

Canada's getting theirs: now, it's Baltimore's turn. Virgin Festival, jumping off the weekend of August 4-5 at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course, will draw music luminaries like the Smashing Pumpkins, Modest Mouse, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, and a mouthful of others to the home of the Preakness.

Tickets for the two-day colossus go on sale May 5, with a full weekend running you $175. That is, unless you're looking to more-than-double your pleasure with a $450 VIP pass. We're not entirely sure what the extra $275 buys you: a meet-and-greet with 311? A Booka Shade umbrella set? A shot at waxing Billy Corgan's brain-case?

The Pumpkins headline August 5, while the recently reunited Police top the August 4 bill. The irony of Tantric Sting playing the Virgin Festival is certainly not lost on us. Meanwhile, a selection of pure and innocent highlights by day lies ahead. Complete lineup here.

Saturday, August 4:
Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse, TV on the Radio, LCD Soundsystem, Peter Bjorn and John, Booka Shade, Felix da Housecat, Fountains of Wayne

Sunday, August 5:
311, Wu-Tang Clan, Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Spoon, M.I.A., Girl Talk, Bad Brains, CSS, Regina Spektor, The Crystal Method (DJ set), Deep Dish

Little Trouble in Big China for Sonic Youth, PGMG

Given all of China's recent socio-economic- political-military-cultural advancements (they are way post-industrial over there), it's a shame they haven't been able to incorporate a little American rock into their plan for a new future. At least, not without incident. Sonic Youth and Pretty Girls Make Graves' recent trips to China have hit various snags thanks in part to the slightly- more-repressive-than-ours government.

First, there was the soon-to-disband Pretty Girls Make Graves, who had to scrap their whole run of Chinese dates (which would've started last night at Beijing's Mao Live). According to PGMG's label Matador, following some miscommunications with promoters, Pretty Girls were unable to secure work visas in time for the shows. Having nixed their four dates in China, they will continue their farewell tour May 10 in Milwaukee.

Meanwhile, Sonic Youth's gig Tuesday night in Shanghai apparently went off without a hitch-- but the night before in Beijing, things got a bit dicey for their hand-picked openers, local power-trio Car-Sick Cars. According to Berwin Song at publication That's Beijing, China's Ministry of Culture-- the final word on permit-issuance for rock shows-- scrapped the Car-Sick show roughly an hour before showtime, reportedly due to Sonic Youth's involvement in the Free Tibet cause. Sonic Youth's performance went on without incident, and they reportedly threw a shout out to the embattled Cars before their take on "Kool Thing".

A representative from Sonic Youth's camp confirmed the Car-Sick cancellation, but said SY are not commenting on the matter. Sonic Youth's tour continues today at Coachella. [MORE...]

Castanets Tour With Phosphorescent, Viking Moses

Ray Raposa and his cavalcade of Castanets will hitch up their heady hillbilly histrionics for a handful of live engagements in the next couple of weeks. The first goes down tomorrow night at Connecticut's Wesleyan University, and Castanets will share many-a-bill thereafter with pedal-steel packin' Phosphorescent and kindred spirit Viking Moses.

Those looking to hear a little Raposa while they themselves enjoy a repose need look no further than webzine Cloak and Dagger. They're currently hosting a podcast from Raposa in which he spins material from Castanets' upcoming album, as well as covers of cuts by current tourmate Viking Moses and Raposa's former seafaring friend Jana Hunter. [MORE...]

Modest Mouse, Interpol, TVotR Play Accelerator Fest
Plus: Hold Steady, Bright Eyes, PB&J, Danielson, Jens Lekman, CSS, Junior Boys, Menomena

Tickets are on-sale now for Sweden's two-pronged Accelerator Festival, going down at Gothenberg's Trädgården June 28 and at the University of Stockholm June 29 and 30. Given our country's recent fascination with all things Swedish, Accelerator's impressively U.S./Brit-heavy lineup feels like an exchange student program gone awry. But, hey, if they're willing to take Danielson off our hands for a few hours, that's A-OK.

Tickets to the extended weekend will run you 900 kronors when the service charge sets in; about $133 American. The single-day Gothenburg fest packs a lighter lineup than its Stockholm sister-fest; Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, Danielson, José González, Jamie T, and O'Death.

As for the whole Stockholm shebang, well, check it:

Modest Mouse, Interpol, the Hold Steady, TV on the Radio, Bright Eyes, Peter Bjorn and John, Danielson, Jens Lekman, Menomena, Junior Boys, Rufus Wainwright, the Sea and Cake, the Gossip, CSS, Frida Hyvönen, the Long Blondes, Gruff Rhys, José González, Isis, Brightblack Morning Light, Electrelane, Tokyo Police Club, the Maccabees, the Presets, Jamie T, Maps, Digitalism, O'Death, Studio, Taken by Trees.

Nomo Hit the Road

Michigan many-piece Afrobeat-biters Nomo will pack up their hot horns and heavy percussion for a mess of early summer shows. If you're not up on Nomo or their new tones or their New Tones, you'll have plenty of chances as the earth heats up, including their sure-to-be scorching, just announced set our Pitchfork Music Festival. You're coming, right? You are? Good answer. [MORE...]

Exclusive: Patrick Wolf Explains His "Retirement"
"For me to say I was going to quit music is like saying I'm going to commit suicide. It's the most extreme thing that could happen in my life."

Patrick Wolf is not quitting music. Despite his recent post on a fan message board saying, "My final concert will be this November... I am not sure whether there will be anymore public communications after that. In fact, I am pretty sure there will be none," it turns out Wolf just plans to take a little break from the cycle of touring and promoting records.

Even Wolf's break looks to be busy, though. He already has two albums' worth of material written for his follow-up to The Magic Position, which doesn't even come out in the U.S. until May 1. His tour has expanded as well, with the addition of Amy Winehouse-free headlining dates in New York and L.A., and a promise of more West Coast gigs.

We spoke to Wolf to get the full story on his non-retirement, and we also asked him about the shape of that next record (or two), how he wants to model his career after Gustav Mahler and Liberace, how he became friends with Kelly Osbourne, and why he feels a kinship with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Pitchfork: Will this orchestral concert in November really be your last?

Patrick Wolf: Um, yeah. I really want people to know that I never released a press release about this issue. I wasn't trying to get published by anybody. I was just writing a very close community of fans. Somebody took that and turned it into a big story, and it's gotten out of control. I just want people to know that, first of all, I never said I was quitting music, and second of all, I never did it in a public way.

I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have music in my life, and this is going to turn into some kind of horrendous Mariah Carey speech, but the music has led me through many adventures and disasters and good times and total lonely times and for me to say I was going to quit music is like saying I'm going to commit suicide. It's the most extreme thing that could happen in my life. That would make me miserable, so I would never say I was quitting music, because I would never know where to start.

Pitchfork: So what did you mean by that message board post?

PW: This year's been strange because The Magic Position is about a relationship that happened a year ago, a very serene and magical time, between me and an artist called Ingrid Z. And I'm having to come and be like a vessel for all these songs, but I'm an honest performer as well. I don't even like to use the word "performance." I don't want to be a traveling businessman or salesman for my work. I want to be a musician that sings and feels and makes people feel, and when something becomes too repetitive, then I feel like I'm not doing my job.

The bad habit that I've had in the last six years since I released my first EP was to not even think that I'm a human being, that I need to sleep or to eat or to go to the toilet or have sex or anything. I just go, "Okay, I'm going on tour for the next year. Goodbye, everyone." And then I say, "Yeah, sure I'll do seven hours of interviews before a show." I do all this, and I enjoy it, but there's a certain time in every musician's life, you've got to realize-- I'm kind of like Britney Spears in a way. I've been doing it as a teenager, so I'm kind of trying to start thinking about being a human so I can start to make my work again. I have to be like the mother and father of my work and say, "It's time to go to bed, Patrick, and it's time not to open your mouth, and it's time to create."

Pitchfork: Do you really feel like Britney Spears?

PW: I think so, yeah [laughs]. I was actually just thinking about her. I guess because my first record painted some strange enigmatic picture of who I was, and I was kind of put into many boxes by the media, almost like there's a virgin that was on that album and a specific character that I don't relate to really. And I'm specifically talking about media interpretation and audience interpretation. I've been made to feel, over the last four or five years, that I should be living in a cave and communicate via pigeons, with no electricity. [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.)