Girls Rock Camp Is Awesome

A few weeks ago, I did something I've never done before: I joined a rock band.

I played bass. My band was called Roxboro High. There were five of us: two bassists, a guitarist, a drummer, and a singer. We wrote an angry punk rock song called "Do the Math" and we played it live on stage at Studio B in Brooklyn, which you might recognize from quite a few Pitchfork News tour stories. Afterwards, a woman came up and thanked us, because her eight-year-old daughter had moshed for the first time while we played.

All of this happened over the course of three days, during something called Ladies Rock Camp, which took place under the auspices of-- and acted as a fundraiser for-- the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. Willie Mae is the Brooklyn branch of an international network of camps for young girls [aka under 18] who want to learn how to rock out. The campers learn how to play various instruments, write songs, and perform on stage, as well as learn the ins and outs of the music business. Ladies Rock Camp was for those of us who happen to be older than 18, but still want to jam.

It was one of the coolest things I've ever done in my entire life. Like most of the women at Ladies Rock Camp, I've never wanted to be a "real" musician, but pretending to be a rock star for three days was incredibly, incredibly fun. Now, I'm a 26-year-old jaded hipster who has worked in the music industry since I was 18. Can you imagine how amazing this experience would be for a 12 or 10 or eight-year-old girl? Not just fun, but truly empowering and mind-expanding?

Though I highly recommend it, going to Ladies Rock Camp isn't the only way you can support the Rock Camp for Girls. There are branches all over the country, and even in Europe, all inspired by the original camp in Portland, Oregon, which now offers classes year-round. (See links below.) Volunteer, donate money or instruments. Tell your sisters/daughters/friends/cousins to sign up!

Or go to one of the camper showcases that are held at the end of each session. The Girls Rock! Chicago showcase is this Saturday, August 18, at noon at the Metro. The Willie Mae showcase is next Saturday, August 25, at 5:30pm NOON at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.

Don't you wish this existed when you were a kid? [MORE...]

The Flaming Lips Add Fall U.S. Dates

Stream: The Flaming Lips: Various tracks [from the UFOs at the Zoo DVD]

Of Montreal, Eggers, Mirman Join Boston Book Eaters
Ryan Adams holds ticket benefit auctions

Reading, as a friendly giant once reminded me, is fundamental. Kevin Barnes and Bryan Poole of Of Montreal seem to concur, as they've linked up with Dave Eggers' Revenge of the Books Eaters project, which holds star-studded benefits to boost Eggers' 826 youth writing centers.

On September 26 at Boston's Berklee Performance Center, Barnes, Poole, Eggers, bad influence Eugene Mirman, Found magazine founder Davy Rothbart, writer Rodney Rothman, and New York indie poppers Via Audio will all perform in various capacities at yet another Revenge of the Book Eaters event, this one in support of 826Boston. The Boston cavalcade is being held a month to the day after the New York one, which features page-turners Feist, Grizzly Bear, Carl Newman, Jim James, and new addition Britt Daniel of Spoon.

Ryan Adams has also joined the fun, auctioning off "premium seats" for several shows on his fall tour to benefit 826. Go here to bid.

The National Firm Up Fall/Winter Trek
Rosebuds, Hayden, Doveman Added as Openers

How does a band like the the National plan to keep up the momentum on a banner year like the one they've had in 2007, as their lauded Boxer continues to grow on listeners and they continue racking up top-notch touring partners?

Why, with plenty more of the latter, of course. The Cincinnati sluggers are rounding out '07 in style with the addition of a few new dates to their big fall blowout, including one at the new, roomy New York venue Terminal 5. They've also filled in all their opener slots, and they're a doozy: forthcoming shows will see the National teaming up with St. Vincent (but you knew that), the maritally blissed-out Rosebuds, Boxer guest Doveman, and Canadian songsmith Hayden.

'Til next year, National... or the next time you add tour dates. [MORE...]

Video: The National: Fake Empire [live on the Late Show with David Letterman]

Nellie McKay Schedules Fall Tour

Following her epic Sweat/Suit two-fer and that totally boss "Grillz" track, St. Louis pop-rapper Nellie McKay is set to issue Obligatory Villagers, her derrty new collection of club bangers and slow jams. Special guests include Murphy Lee, Chingy, and Kenny Chesney.

Oh, sorry. Got my papers shuffled again. We're talking about Nellie McKay, the funny lady with the flair for the dramatic (though that other Nelly does have a new record out kinda soon, and this Nellie does have a penchant for double albums).

Ms. McKay is indeed about to drop Obligatory Villagers September 25 on her own Hungry Mouse label, and to go along with it, she's slated some tour dates-- possibly begrudgingly, since she admitted in our recent interview that she doesn't like touring very much.

We should mention that her August 28 date at the Spiegeltent at New York's South Street Seaport will feature just a handful of songs with cabaret troupe Weimar New York. Beyond that, though, Nellie's publicist promises "solo piano... [and] a little bit of ukulele" on all dates.

Both Nellie(y)s, I hope you're listening: there's no such thing as too much ukulele. [MORE...]

Stream: Nellie McKay: Zombie [from the Obligatory Villagers LP]

Monitor Imprint We*Are*Free Signs Yeasayer, Ponytail
Also Indian Jewelry

Monitor Records chief Jason Foster has launched a new Monitor subsidiary, We*Are*Free, which serves as both a record label and management group. The label debuted with the already available debut single and forthcoming debut album from Brooklyn quartet Yeasayer.

The single-- "2080" / "Sunrise"-- has no official commercial release and is available for free download at the link below. Yeasayer's full-length, All Hour Cymbals, will arrive on October 30.

The Baltimore-based label's next releases include full-lengths from Ponytail and Indian Jewelry, and all three bands on its roster have tour dates in the upcoming weeks, including a Yeasayer tour with Shapes and Sizes in September.

In other, very minimal Monitor news, there is rumor of a possible new release from Oxes on some undetermined future date. [MORE...]

MP3: Yeasayer: 2080 / Sunrise [single; from the forthcoming All Hour Cymbals LP]
Stream: Ponytail: Various Tracks
MP3: Indian Jewelry: Lesser Snake [from the Invasive Exotics LP]

Lily Allen Postpones U.S. Dates Due to Visa Issues

Stream: Lily Allen: LDN (South Rakkas Crew Crack Whore Riddim) [from the LDN single]

Beastie Boys Extend Tour

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

Beastie Boys have extended the dates of their previously reported tour in support of this year's instrumental album The Mix-Up to include even more North American dates in late September.

The tour now includes shows in Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, and Chicago, and there are plans to announce even more shows (including instrumental performances in Detroit and Montreal) shortly.

Like the rest of the shows, these new dates take part in the Beasties' previously reported efforts to counteract the tour's impact on the environment. [MORE...]

Stream: Beastie Boys: Various Tracks

Hives Sneak Away From Maroon 5 for Headline Shows

Video: The Hives: Walk Idiot Walk [from the Tyrannosaurus Hives LP]

BRUUUUUUUUCE IS BAAAAAACK
So is the E Street Band

Barroom bard (and modern rock touchstone) Mr. Bruce Springsteen has gathered up that grit and gravitas, paired it with the wild and innocent shuffle of longtime companions the E Street Band, and made a little Magic. Yup, it's a new studio album set for release October 2 on Columbia.

Hot on the heels of last year's excellent Seeger Sessions and 2005's Devils and Dust, Magic is the first Springsteen record with the E Street Band since 2002's The Rising. Produced by Brendan O'Brien-- who manned the boards at both the Rising and Dust sessions-- the album was recorded at Atlanta's Southern Tracks Recording Studio. A full tour is expected to accompany the album's release, though dates haven't been firmed up just yet.

In other Springsteeniana, Bruce guests on wife (and E Street band member) Patti Scialfa's Play It as It Lays, due out September 4 on Columbia. A pair of collaborations between Springsteen and folk legend (and Seeger Sessions inspiration) Pete Seeger will also pop up in September on a couple of compilations, as part of a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Appleseed Recordings. A take on Springsteen's "The Ghost of Tom Joad" will grace September 11's Sowing the Seeds: The 10th Anniversary, while a version of the folk standard "Hobo's Lullaby" shows up on Give Us Your Poor, a benefit to fight homelessness, out September 25. [MORE...]

Video: Bruce Springsteen: Atlantic City [from the Nebraska LP]

Surprise! A New Beck Single!
Promotional photograph featuring Devendra Banhart allows for pleasant visual continuity with preceding headline news story

Well look what we have here-- a new Beck single! Apparently, this coming Monday, iTunes will release the new Beck song "Timebomb", all by its lonesome. (All other digital stores have to wait a week, until August 28.) No album, no EP, no superstar remixes. Just one song. Could this be yet another one of Beck's ploys to turn the music industry upside-down?

According to a press release, "The lyric of "Timebomb" echoes some of the dark themes from that album [The Information] but is packaged in digital gris gris thunder as only Beck can do it." OK then! Beck produced the track himself, and performs vocals and keyboard, while Brian LeBarton plays keyboards and guitar.

No word yet on whether or not this is what Beck and Jamie Lidell were up to at Infrasonic studios recently, but a press release hints that the song features "a whole gang of studio visitors on back-up vocals."

UPDATE: Jamie Lidell isn't on this track. Sorry!

Video: Beck: Cell Phone's Dead [from The Information LP]

Kinski Dive Into Chaos on New Album, Tour

MP3: Kinski: Punching Goodbye Out Front [from the Down Below It's Chaos 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.)