BoH's Bridwell Talks YouTubers, New Album, Sex Clubs
"Is there no sanctity left for live performance with going to a show and seeing it with your own eyes and remembering it? Do you have to tape every second, or even just your favorite song? I understand it, but it's becoming annoying."

Photo by Stephen Lindley

Ben Bridwell is a nice dude, but like all of us, he's prone to a bad mood every now and then. Attendees at Band of Horses' July 6 show at Canes Bar & Grill in San Diego were privy to one of those moods, as Bridwell, after experiencing some frustration with the performance, proceeded to flip the bird to a woman named Rosemary who was filming the band's performance of "The Funeral".

According to various reports, he eventually apologized for the outburst (which reportedly included a rant against YouTube-ing show tapers), but by that time, Rosemary had left the club to later write a livid blog post voicing her disapproval of Bridwell's behavior.

Since things like this tend to get distorted and blown out of proportion due to the one-sided nature of internet opinion, we decided to catch up with the Band of Horses frontman himself to get his side of the story. He clearly explained his frustrations with the show in question and the YouTubing of live shows in general, but he also expressed his apologies to Rosemary and the people who attended the show in San Diego for failing to maintain the kind of professionalism he strives for as a live performer.

(Thanks to reader Randall Christopher for pointing us towards Rosemary's blog.)

And since we had him on the phone, we also talked to Ben about a bunch of other stuff, including his band's forthcoming second record (due out October 9 via Sub Pop), the effect his beard has on children, shooting hoops with Doug Martsch, and why it is that all the dudes at shady sex clubs seemed to be named [spooky voice] Jason.

Pitchfork: What's your take on what happened at the San Diego show? There were reports that you went off on this rant about YouTube and show tapers but that you later apologized. And this woman Rosemary wrote this blog post that includes a YouTube video of you flicking her off and saying, "I see you filming." I don't know if you saw her blog, but on it she said her new name for you guys is "Band-Aid on Horseshit". What do you think about all of this stuff?

Ben Bridwell: She seems like a big fan. I'm glad she could come to the show.

Pitchfork: [laughs] Yeah.

BB: Yeah, man. What happened was, beside Canes being a pretty tough venue to play for a band like us--

Pitchfork: Why is that?

BB: It's just really jock-y around the Pacific beach right there, and San Diego in itself is a bit jock-y. The vibe was just kind of weird. It just felt a little off. I know there were people there that were fans, and we had to put on a good show for them. But at the same time, half the room seemed to be filled with weekend warrior types.

You had this kind of weird mix of people, and unfortunately the venue is a bit-- the attitude of the bouncers and of the staff is not very welcoming to anybody coming in the door, whether you're playing there or coming to see a show there. I've been there myself as a show-going patron and felt that way before, before this band even started. So it's a bit of a fucking gnarly vibe there anyway, which made the show kind of tense.

But then you had all these kids up front, that seemed so disinterested in the show and didn't look up at the stage or anything. They just kind of sat there in front of the stage. Just seemed like they didn't want to be there at all, until we played "The Funeral". So all of a sudden you had these people that seemed so disinterested in the show all, somehow at the same time, pull their cameras out of their bags and start filming.

So I'm sitting there-- now they're really interested in this one song-- and they still won't make eye contact, looking through their little lenses, taping this one song for their blogs or for their fucking YouTube [accounts] or whatever, and it was just so annoying. It's like, this show is already going south, and these people that seem disinterested are only here to further their YouTube accounts or their blogs or whatever, and it just pissed me off.

It was really annoying. It was just scratching at the surface of what's happening to shows lately. Everybody's got a camera in their pocket, and they turn it on to just, I don't know, exploit us in some way or further their own projects or whatever the fuck they're doing with their websites and shit. It's become a little bit ridiculous, and it was just a bit unnerving, and [with] the situation with the show and everything, all the stars lined up and I got pissed off. [MORE...]

Blow, YACHT, Mt. Eerie, Johnson Do What the Heck Fest
Plus: Lucky Dragons, Laura Veirs, Karl Blau, D+, Old Time Relijun, Jason Anderson

Packrats rejoice! The annual Anacortes bric-a-brac bonanza known as Shipwreck Day makes landfall this Saturday (July 21), and with this glorified swap meet comes a festival in the spirit of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink: What the Heck Fest!

Now in its sixth year, WTHF will bring much musical mirth to the sea-straddled Anacortes area from July 19-22. The Blow, YACHT, Mount Eerie, Calvin Johnson, Lucky Dragons, and Laura Veirs are among those performing at such enticingly-named venues as the Department of Safety, the Croatian Club, and City Hall Basement. Other acts of note include Jason Anderson (Wolf Colonel), Mecca Normal, Karl Blau, D+ (which includes WTHF founder and Beat Happening dude Bret Lunsford), Adrian Orange (Thanksgiving), Old Time Relijun, Little Wings, and Graves.

The anything goes vibe wouldn't be complete with all kinds of films, poetry readings, art installations, DJ'd dance parties, and "something called a Friendship Trail," to quote the press release.

What the Heck Festival organizers also promise a special fest compilation packed with exclusive cuts from performers-- as well as a new Mt. Eerie 10" with photobook and an expanded Thanksgiving reissue-- will be made available this weekend. And bring your trunks, as the festival's island location affords visitors ample opportunities to show off their best belly flop.

Full schedule below. [MORE...]

Yo La Tengo, PBJ, Furnaces, Calexico Do SLC Series
Plus: Apostle of Hustle, Dr. Dog, French Kicks

In what may well be an attempt to refine the tastes of SLC punks far and wide, the good people of Salt Lake City have been hosting a dandy free summer concert series. The Twilight Concert Series, as it's known, turns 20 this year, and to celebrate the momentous occasion a lot of bands you might like will play the Gallivan Center in the Utah capital's downtown.

Yo La Tengo and the Fiery Furnaces double up for tomorrow night's (July 19) performance, while Peter Bjorn and John team with Apostle of Hustle for an August 2 gig. Then Calexico and French Kicks razzle dazzle 'em August 23. Oh, and Dr. Dog play July 26, too. All shows take place in the gloaming on Thursdays and admission is free. A full schedule can be yours if you can find the magic link. Where oh where could it be??? [MORE...]

Daft Punk and Rapture Tour Hot Afterparty Action

As a wise man once reminded us, after the show, it's the after party. And after the party, it's the hotel lobby-- but that's your business. After sets by Daft Punk and the Rapture on their forthcoming tour, the idea of partying any more might seem a bit much.

But get this: following a handful of dates on the Daft Punk/Rapture tour, body-movers from the Ed Banger fold and the Throne of Blood crew will throw down 'til the wee hours and make you wish you'd brought something to soothe that trick knee of yours. There's always booze.

And who, might you ask, will be the face of Ed Banger and Throne of Blood? Well, on the Ed side, there's label head/Daft Punk manager Busy P, and tourmates SebastiAn and Kavinsky, while Throne of Blood (aka the label run by the Rapture) sports Vito, Druzzi, Mattie, and Luke the Duke (aka the members of the Rapture), and James F!@$%^ Friedman. And then in Chicago, Montreal, and New York City, Gildas Loaec of the French label Kitsune will also spin.

Oh oh oh: "special guests" are expected to attend the post-show romps. Kells, where you at, playa?

For more info about the parties, head to http://mas-forever.com/ [MORE...]

Maria Taylor Tours With Midlake, Jimmy Eat World
And, good God, they're playing Emo's

Photo by Jeff Gros

How emo can you go? Ex-Azure Ray serenader Maria Taylor will play a game of emo limbo (embo?) beginning tonight as she jets off on tour with those boys whose words became the stuff of high school notebook marginalia, Jimmy Eat World.

Taylor will melt the fragile hearts of many an emo boy and girl as she plays a dirty dozen dates with Mesa's finest-- including, yes, a sure-to-be legendary show at Austin's Emo's. Best of all, that tour wraps up with plenty of time to prepare for the Christie Front Drive reunion in Denver.

...oh, pardon me! I was just busy carving my favorite lyric from Clarity into my scrawny, tear-soaked wrist. Anyhow, following her tryst with Jimmy, Taylor presents her Lynn Teeter Flower to fans of Midlake across a six-pack of dates with, aw hell, Denton's finest. [MORE...]

Kaiser Chiefs Extend Tour Through December
Datarock, White Rabbits open North American shows

Photo by Kathryn Yu

Kaiser Chiefs will bring Yours Truly, Angry Mob into the second half of the year as they play dates in the UK, Europe, and North America that extend all the way into December. Datarock and White Rabbits will join them on most of the North American dates in September.

Finally, they'll return to the UK for another round of shows starting in November. [MORE...]

Celebration to Unleash Sophomore LP in Autumn

Charm City reprazent! Spawned from the same prodigious urban loins that gave you Dan Deacon, Beach House, and club rap, the B-town B-boys and B-girl behind Celebration return this fall with another longplayer celebrating their unique marriage of musical stylez.

Katrina Ford, Sean Antanaitis, and David Bergander (all once of Love Life) follow up their self-titled 2005 debut with a second full-length on 4AD. The Modern Tribe takes to the streets in October, and was recorded with Old Man Windchimes himself, Dave Sitek. Chris Coady engineered the 11 track set, selections from which you may very well hear live if you catch Celebration opening for Sitek and the rest of TV on the Radio July 29 at Brooklyn's McCarren Park Pool.

Just don't forget what Frankie Goes to Hollywood taught you about tribes. [MORE...]

Kanye to Host His Own Chicago Benefit
Plus: Totally unsubstantiated Kanye/Radiohead rumor!

Kanye West will return home to Chicago to perform at the House of Blues on August 24 as part of a benefit for his own Kanye West Foundation, a nonprofit that provides music production and creative arts education for students in underserved communities.

Most of the money raised from the Chicago show, the foundation's first benefit concert, will go toward establishing the Loop Dreams Teacher Training Institute in Chicago next spring. The goal of the institute is to train Chicago Public Schools teachers in using hip-hop to liven their curricula and inspire students to stay in school.

A few surprise celebrity guests will join Kanye on the House of Blues stage, where he will perform material from his forthcoming Graduation (the release of which has been pushed up to August 21) and preview his Glow in the Dark tour, which kicks off this fall.

True to the foundation's mission, Kanye will host about 200 kids at a Pre-Show Sound Check Bash where they will get the chance to see how the MC prepares for his performances.

Before the Chicago show, Kanye has a few UK and European dates as well, the first of which is August 11 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Speaking of surprise celebrity guests, there's a rumor going around that Kanye and Radiohead's Thom Yorke recently hit the studio together in New York City. God we hope that's true.

Oh, and that awesome art up there? That's the cover of the "Stronger" single. [MORE...]

Lily Allen Tours, Designs Shoes

Man, what is up with musicians and shoes these days? It's like designing kicks for Nike is the second step after creating a MySpace page on the path to a career.

Just a few minutes ago, we told you about MF Doom's skateboarding shoes. Now, Lily Allen has jumped into the game as well, teaming with Nike for the "Lily Allen Air Max 90", according to a press release. "The shoe, which will only be available via various exclusive U.S. promotions this summer, will be red, white, and blue with stars on the laces." How rave! Of course, Lily is no newbie when it comes to clothing design.

When not cooped up behind a sewing machine, Lil has plotted out a world tour that, by all indications, is going rather well at the moment. She's hopping from England to Russia to Japan to Australia, back to Europe for a bit, dropping down to South America for a couple nights, and then finally heading to the States. Here, she'll play a half-dozen West Coast dates with an up-and-coming gentleman named Kevin Michael (who sounds a little bit like what might happen if Chris Brown got into Odelay). [MORE...]

TVOTR, Wolf Parade, Notwist Members on Subtle LP

Sure, he could probably mimic all their voices, but Subtle superfreak Doseone has instead opted to enlist the talents of a bunch of cool people for the next Subtle longplayer, due out this fall.

According to a recent MySpace bulletin from the band, Yell&Ice will follow up last year's way-too-slept-on for hero: for fool. It will include "new music made with" Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio), Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs), Markus Acher (The Notwist), Yoni Wolf (Why?, cLOUDEAD), Andrew Broder (Fog), Chris Adams (Hood, Bracken), and Dosh (Dosh).

No word yet on a tracklist or a precise release date, but why not ask the Subtle six about those things in person? The septet hits the road next month for a string of West Coast dates with recent Anticon signing Thee More Shallows. There's a lone Chicago date floating around out there as well, and a Midwest and East Coast tour with Minus the Bear shaping up for fall.

In related news, Doseone recently issued an extremely limited poetry LP titled Soft Skulls. Score a copy here while they last. [MORE...]

MF Doom Tours, Reissues LP, Designs Shoes

No, the follow-up to Madvillainy is still not yet visible on the horizon, (nor is the long-rumored full-length Ghostface collab), but an MF Doom tour is almost as good.

The ever-elusive (and allusive, come to think of it) Stones Throw MC will hit the road quite soon, in fact. He now has a handful of solo dates to go along with his previously reported appearances on the Rock the Bells tour, which has the almost unquestionably finest lineup of any hip-hop tour this summer (just look at it!).

Doom's dates begin July 29 in New York City and end exactly one month later, on August 29 in Detroit.

Before Doom sets foot on stage, however, Rhymesayers will reissue his 2004 album Mm..Food?, which has been out-of-print for almost two years. The reissue comes on CD and double LP, and included is a DVD with over an hour of live and behind-the-scenes footage. A limited edition of the reissue will come in special packing that includes a sticker, a tour poster, and a chocolate-scented scratch-and-sniff wrapper. Talk about dedication to a concept. The Mm..Food? reissue is out July 24.

And following in the, uh, footsteps of everyone from Jay-Z to Johnny Marr, MF Doom has designed his own shoe. His Nike Skateboarding high-tops are available now, but judging by a Google search, you're gonna have to shell out some serious cash on eBay or at a specialty sneaker site to get 'em. Or pre-order the Mm..Food? reissue from Fifth Element and enter to win a pair.

[MORE...]

Arctic Monkeys Extend Tour Into Fall

With a Mercury Prize nomination for their second full-length under their belts, Arctic Monkeys have added dates to their world tour, which now includes stops in the U.S. and Brazil in addition to a couple of Canadian festival dates.

The new dates begin in early September, but the Monkeys have quite a few shows before then in Europe, Australia, and Japan. Their next show is tonight (July 18) in Lisbon, Portugal. [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.)