Pitchfork

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.