Ben Gibbard, Jim James Play MGD's "Craft" Series
He wants to live where puke meets toilet

The fine folks who brought you a room-sized tribute to "Hang On Sloopy" and those who brought you a lifetime of Saturday morning misery have joined forces for Miller Genuine Draft's "The Craft", a series of live performances / artist interviews presented by both the tinny microbrew and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Having recently hosted evenings with Elvis Costello and My Morning Jacket's Jim James, they'll soon follow with Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard, Patty Griffin, and eight other still to-be-announced shows in the works at various domestic venues over the next few months. According to a press release, "Events will include an intimate performance, interspersed with conversations and stories behind the creation and production of their music." Just like VH1 "Storytellers"! But more drunk.

Warren Zanes, formerly of the Del Fuegos and currently working at the Rock Hall, is the interrogator.

As Randy Ransom, Miller's chief marketing officer, said in that same press release, "Through 'The Craft' artist interview series, MGD will continue to champion genuine American music and the artists who make it such a vital part of our consumers' lives. And no beer brand is more suited for this mission." (With the exception, of course, of an actual 'craft' brew.)

Ransom continues, "The work that goes into making music of this caliber is a craft and it takes several 'rounds' for each song to become great. This attention is the same as MGD's care to filter its beer four times and we salute that relentless care that each of these musicians put into creating their work." Four times? This series sounds like it may be better suited for Good Charlotte.

Nevertheless, Ben Gibbard performs and is interviewed September 10 at the Fillmore in Denver, Colorodo.

In other Gibbard news, he's got his sloppy mitts all over the Kurt Cobain doc soundtrack, as well as the forthcoming Elliott Smith tribute book. And his mug shows up in a movie that we sure hope is better than License to Wed.

Video: Ben Gibbard: Palmcorder Yajna [the Mountain Goats cover]

Future of the Left Prep Debut for Fall, Tour UK

Stream: Future of the Left: Various Tracks

Photos: Band of Horses With Zach Galifianakis [New York, NY; 07/10/07]
Plus more Band of Horses tour dates

Photos by Stephen Lindley

Seattle rockers Band of Horses, comedian Zach Galifianakis, New York magazine, and a cadre of tasteless art pieces up for auction. So, who cares? New York Cares, that's who. The charity organization-- which supports civic organizations, schools, and nonprofits around the five boroughs-- gathered up all of the above for a singularly lighthearted fundraising experience last night at NYC's Hiro Ballroom.

Funnyman Galifianakis auctioned off a number of intentionally-terrible items, such as an "original" painting by Richard Petty (presumably the NASCAR guy), which fetched $500. Galifianakis then produced an identical print of the same painting and began the bidding all over again.

Moby also showed up, helping to auction off a piece of bad art from his own collection.

After exhausting their collection of bargain-bin masterpieces, Band of Horses (whom Galifianakis referred to as "Brand of Horses" all night) took the stage for a mini-concert. More photos, and the Horses' remaining summer tour dates, below the fold. They've added quite a few shows since we last reported, so be sure to take a look.

ZACH GALIFIANAKIS (AND MOBY)




BAND OF HORSES

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Maximo Park Kick Off Tour, Prep New Single

Tonight in Boston, Maxïmo Park will embark on their first Stateside tour in nearly two years. Canada, too, will get their day in the park as the Maxïmos make it through July in North America before heading to Europe and Asia. Homebodies amongst you can catch Maxïmo as they play the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show July 25.

August 20 in the UK (and only in the UK), Warp will issue a trio of singles for "Girls Who Play Guitars" on two different 7" records and a CD, all with different b-sides. The first 7" sports new song "Warehouse", while the other packs a demo of "Girls" and a cut called "(I Remember) Joe Brainard", presumably a tribute to the late visual artist. The CD gathers "An Unknown" and an instrumental demo of Our Earthly Pleasures cut "Sandblasted and Set Free".

In other Maxïmo news, they'll grace a bonus track on the forthcoming Modeselektor LP. [MORE...]

Video: Maximo Park: Books from Boxes [from the Our Earthly Pleasures LP]

Castanets Enters Vines With Jana Hunter, Tours

Stream: Castanets: Like a Pen [The Knife cover]

Sunset Rubdown Feel Up U.S. on October Tour

Sunset Rubdown-- the Wolf Parade side project by which all other Wolf Parade side projects are measured-- have been busy marking the the heck out of the October page of their Kitten Caboodle calendar. They've already circled every single Tuesday for possible inclusion on the Jagjaguwar release schedule for their forthcoming new album Random Spirit Lover, due sometime that month. And now, they've marked off nine days on which they'll be busy bringing the noise to American audiences.

Things could get even more chaotic for the Rubdown if the "3 to 4 week North American tour" alluded to in a recent press release comes to fruition, but for right now, October's Kitten Caboodle looks like an overpass in shared gang territory.

Lest we forget, Wolf Parade have a few tour dates of their own. Thankfully for poor kitty, they're in August and September. [MORE...]

Video: Sunset Rubdown: For the Pier (and Dead Shimmering) [Live]

PJ Harvey's White Chalk Tracklist Revealed

Video: PJ Harvey: Down by the Water [from the To Bring You My Love LP]

Deerhoof to Issue "Matchbook Seeks Maniac" 7", Tour

No surprise here: Deerhoof are about to do something weird. The experimental (emphasis on mental) trio will issue a 7" picture disc single for Friend Opportunity's darn near poppy "Matchbook Seeks Maniac" on Kill Rock Stars September 11.

The off-kilter part? It isn't the album version of "Matchbook" that appears on the single. It's actually be the "Dedication mix", referring to the film Dedication, in which the song appears. Dedication was directed by Deerhoof megafan Justin Theroux, aka that neighbor guy Brenda sorta dated while on the outs with Nate on "Six Feet Under". As previously reported, Deerhoof composed the score for the film.

The single's B-side, "Makko Shobu", was previously only available on iTunes.

There's more spastic fun ahead from Deerhoof: they'll force a smile from Carson Daly on his program on July 18, a week from tonight, and drummer Greg Saunier also sits behind the kit for David Garland's upcoming Noise in You. They've also got a tour around the corner, including a few previously announced dates with Bloc Party and Smoosh. [MORE...]

Video: Deerhoof: Robinsons fruit juice ad

Photos: Smashing Pumpkins [Washington, DC; 07/10/07]

Photos by Shervin Lainez

Messianic Billy Corgan and the newly ressurrected Smashing Pumpkins treated residents of Washington, DC and the surrounding area to a secret rock sermon last night at the tiny (by Pumpkins standards) 9:30 club.

Is it just me, or does our star-speckled Billy look like one big bundle of zen sunshine, meeting and greeting his picket line of fans?

The Pumpkins rock a San Francisco residency this month before taking their Zeitgeist tour full throttle in August.






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Stars Announce Fall Tour

MP3: Stars: The Night Starts Here [from the In Our Bedroom After the War LP]

Joanna Newsom to Tour Europe
I bet they call her "Joann-er" over there

How much does it cost to crate a harp across the water to Europe? Those unwieldy things have to weigh 100 pounds at least, and I can only imagine how much bubble wrap such a shipment would require.

But, hey, Drag City's got deep pockets, especially when it comes to Joanna Newsom, so when her axe arrives in Wales in mid-August as she kicks off a diminutive European tour, we're guessing there'll be nary a snapped string or a dent in the gold veneer to mar Ms. Newsom's masterly noise. That Joanna: first class, all the way.

Unless, of course, she's borrowing someone else's harp. Maybe Vashti Bunyan has one lying around somewhere? [MORE...]

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

Clipse, Deerhunter, Wolf Parade Play Musicfest NW
Along with Spoon, Thermals, Grizzly Bear, Girl Talk, Okkervil River, Aesop Rock, Dan Deacon

Gee, Portland, Oregon, isn't it enough to, like, run indie rock? Now you gotta keep it all to yourself for a whole weekend? Ah well, when you've got a festival this good, we can't be mad atcha.

From September 6 through September 9, alt-weekly paper Willamette Week will host their annual MusicFest NW at various clubs around the fair city. They've wrangled quite a lineup for this year's bill, including Spoon, Clipse, the Thermals, Girl Talk, Wolf Parade, Okkervil River, Grizzly Bear, Aesop Rock, Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, the Dirty Projectors, Eric Bachmann, YACHT, the Fucking Champs, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Thrones, Roky Erickson & the Explosives, Viva Voce, the Shaky Hands, Eugene Mirman, the Helio Sequence, Horse Feathers, Patterson Hood, Jason Lytle, the Brunettes, Tiny Vipers, and many more. Not to mention both Lifetime and Lifesavas!

The fest will benefit the Oregon Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and the Rock n Roll Camp for Girls.

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