Photos: White Stripes Rock a Tiny Classroom [Burnaby, British Columbia; 06/24/07]

In the midst of playing every last province in Canada-- and just a few days after taking over the old Tower Records space in L.A. and doing a warm-up show in New York City-- the White Stripes kept it extra real, rocking a tiny classroom before a couple dozen ecstatic teenagers in Burnaby, British Columbia.

The Icky Thumpers' special free show went down June 24, just prior to their full-scale, public performance that night, in the mobile classroom at the Creekside Youth Centre. (Okay, maybe not your typical classroom, judging from all the gig posters on the walls, but a classroom-esque space all the same.)

Many thanks to reader and show attendee Cayley Western for these photos.

UPDATE: ACCORDING TO WESTERN, THE SHOW WAS FILMED FOR A FUTURE DVD!

The Stripes' tour, meanwhile, continues in Iqaluit, Nunavut tonight. Maybe they're playing a secret show in, like, an igloo at this very moment.




[MORE...]

Shocking Pinks Sign to DFA
Gets remixed by Deerhunter, Eluvium, the Glimmers

Stream: Shocking Pinks: Various Tracks

Patrick Wolf Models for Burberry

When I think of the clothing brand Burberry, I think upscale preppy, khakis and earth tones, well-tailored suits, trenchcoats to wear to the steeplechase at the Countess' manor.

When I think of the rising star Patrick Wolf, I think glam rock, glitter, sparkles, bright colors, flamboyance, fairies, magic, the horrified looks on the yuppies' faces in the audience when I saw him open for Amy Winehouse.

But thanks to the wonders of cross-marketing, these two very different aesthetics have joined together to form one big happy fashion family. Wolf is one of the stars of Burberry's fall 2007 campaign, set to run in August. The advertisements were shot by famed photographer Mario Testino. According to Fashion Week Daily, in addition to Wolf, the campaign also features Brit rockers such as the Paddingtons, Edward Larrikin, and members of the View, along with a bevy of British models.

When he's not busy sporting fancy threads, Wolf has shows schedules throughout July and August. This Friday, June 29, he'll play a "secret acoustic show" in London, which will also serve as a birthday celebration. Happy birthday, Patrick! [MORE...]

Stream: Patrick Wolf: The Marriage [from The Magic Position single]

Sonic Youth, El-P, Grizzly Bear Play Free Yr Radio

Before the transmission's over and the signal fades, the Urban Outfitters/Toyota Yaris/thrifty hipster covergence that is Free Yr Radio will host a trio of shows that aren't to be scoffed at. The series-- which hosts free in-store performances by really good indie bands, and somehow benefits community radio stations -- will give away Grizzly Bear, El-P, Dntel and Sonic Youth throughout the month of July at your favorite emporium of mass-marketed kitsch.

Grizzly Bear will play an Urban Outfitters in Cleveland on July 12 to benefit WBWC, El-P plays the Avenue of the Americas store in NYC on July 14 to benefit WNHU, and Sonic Youth and Dntel will hit Santa Monica on July 21 to benefit KXLU.

The series hosted the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Klaxons, the Rapture, Man Man, and a whole bunch more throughout the late spring, and they're certainly closing things out with a bang. Video and photos from past events are available on the Free Yr Radio website.

Qui Announce North American Tour

After all that confusion with two of the hardest-cored indie labels, Qui aren't making any sudden movements. So ex-Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid madman David Yow's new band have scheduled themselves a full North American tour... but that tour doesn't start for three more months. Caution is all well and good, fellas, but don't you wanna see the nice people and then make their brains hurt?

Qui do have a few dates plotted in the interim, and-- barring incident-- Love's Miracle still drops September 11 on Ipecac. Hey, that's the first day of the North American tour! Maybe careful planning does pay off. [MORE...]

Stream: Qui: Various Tracks

And the Bloc Party Don't Stop

Soon enough, Bloc Party are going to start running out of places they haven't already played. And when that day comes, they might just show up at your house unannounced to ask your mom if they can use your garage.

Their ginormous tour just got a touch more bloated, and with all the weekends they're spending in various cities over the rest of 2007, they've gotta get sick of the same old spots eventually. Park the car on the street and break out the extension cords-- soon enough, Bloc Party may be coming directly at you. For now, though, there's a large probability they're coming awfully close, as they've just added a number of dates to their globe-spanning trek.

In other Bloc Party news, they've got a single for "Hunting for Witches" due July 9 in the UK from Wichita. Yes, yes, witches, Wichita, we already made that joke. [MORE...]

Stream: Bloc Party: Say it Right [Nelly Furtado cover]

Behold! Prince's New Fragrance! On the Internet!
Mmm...smells like pixels!

I have fond memories of those little perfume sample ads that would slip out of my family's Good Housekeeping magazines and Sunday papers en masse. My father, thrifty gent that he is, would use them as air fresheners in the garage (he still does this).

Unfortunately, though, Pa won't be unleashing the amorous odors of Prince's previously mentioned 3121 upon the garage mildew today-- unless he can somehow channel them via the world wide web.

That's right, Prince is inviting us, one and all, to experience his new numerically-named fragrance-- on its very own website.

Just click here. Can you feel that "kaleidoscope of rich florals"? Is it not indeed Xquisite, Mysterious, and Xotic? Do your olfactories not delight in these enticing, pixelated scents? And man, that font. Does it not make you want to party like it's 1983?

The new scent from Prince leaps off of your computer screen and onto your body on July 7 (aka 07/07/07). As part of a special charity promotion beginning at midnight on the eve of the 7th, Prince will make 3121 available for the oh-so-clever price of $31.21. Hey, let's hope his next fragrance is called 159.

High-rollers can score a Special Collectible Edition of 3121 for $295.00 plus shipping. It includes some nice tchotchkes and a ticket to see Prince perform live in Minneapolis (at a Macy's!) on 07/07/07. What's more, every 77th order wins an extra ticket to the event.

Finally, the artist formerly known as a symbol not available in this typeset will donate 7% of each purchase to seven different charities. Hmm, maybe what we need to experience 3121 on the internet is a seventh sense?

Prince's Planet Earth, as previously reported, is due July 24 in North America and July 16 elsewhere. [MORE...]

Video: Prince: Guitar (Verizon commercial) [from the forthcoming Planet Earth LP]

Electronic Music Pioneers White Noise Reissue Debut

Readers of Pitchfork's "200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s" feature may remember that Derbyshire-- while working at the Radiophonic Workshop-- helped create the original theme song to "Doctor Who", which placed at #76 on our list. [MORE...]

Video: BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Alchemists of Sound

Weezer Really Not Breaking Up, Recording New Album

Other: Video Game: Weezer Fight!

The Beastie Boys Expand Summer Tour

Stream: The Beastie Boys: Various Tracks

Photos: Bad Brains on a Cruise Ship [New York, NY; 06/25/07]

[MORE...]

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Tour U.S. This Fall

MP3: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Love Song No. 7 [from the Some Loud Thunder 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.)