Beirut, Black Lips, Edwyn Collins, Yeasayer Play Swn
Plus: Two Gallants, the Cribs, School of Language, Pony Up!, Sons and Daughters, Duke Spirit

Every Welsh-to-English translator I've tried on this dad-gummed internet has failed me in my quest to determine just what the "Sŵn" is in "Sŵn Festival". But, with Beirut, Black Lips, Edwyn Collins, Two Gallants, Yeasayer, School of Language, Pony Up!, the Duke Spirit, and Sons and Daughters crammed in among dozens of others at numerous Cardiff, Wales venues November 9-11, I'd posit that "Sŵn" is at least synonymous with awesomeness.

In addition to all the awesomeness a wristband will afford, there's a pair of separately ticketed shows going on around the festival. The Cribs, Those Dancing Days, and Shrag will play November 9 for an additional fee, while BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Cassius, and more follow suit the night after. A wristband will get you into everything else, however, and individual tickets will be sold at the door of every other show when available.

Not content to merely offer music, Sŵn will also feature film screenings. Reels set to run: freak folkie favorite Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, the Saint Etienne-scored trio of This Is Tomorrow, Finisterre, and What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day?, a Vashti Bunyan documentary teaser, music videos, and more.

Russian Circles Sign to Suicide Squeeze
Russian Circles & Botch, sittin' in a tree...

Lots of changes in the instru-metal world of Chicago's Russian Circles: First and foremost, they've signed to Seattle label Suicide Squeeze, home of Minus the Bear, Page France, and fellow Chicagoans Chin Up Chin Up.

The signing is accompanied by a KGB-like flurry of personnel changes as well. While drummer Dave Turncrantz and guitarist Mike Sullivan remain in the band, they have parted ways with bassist Colin DeKupier. In his stead, they have recruited former Botch/current These Arms Are Snakes bassist Brian Cook for recording purposes, though he is not a full-time member of the band.

Another Botch associate, producer Matt Bayles (also producer for Mastodon and Minus the Bear), will help RC record their follow-up to last year's Enter in December. The album is tentatively planned for a spring or summer release on their new label.

But in this trying time of departed band members, temporary fill-ins, and tentative release dates, one thing is for certain: Russian Circles have three dates scheduled for the rest of this year, the first of which is November 29 in Seattle. [MORE...]

Clipse Leave Jive/Star Trak for Columbia

In a move that should put an end to much of the drama surrounding their recorded output, Clipse have left Jive Records and the Neptunes' Star Trak Entertainment for a five-year deal with Columbia Records, according to Billboard.com.

Clipse's new 50/50 profit sharing arrangement with Columbia for their Re-Up Gang Records also includes ownership of all Re-Up Gang master tapes, including those of Re-Up members Ab Liva and Sandman. Both a new Clipse record and a Re-Up Gang posse disc are due in 2008, though unlike Clipse's two previous albums, the new one won't be produced in full by the Neptunes. Billboard.com reports that Pusha and Malice hope to work with Timbaland, Timbaland cohort Danjahandz, and Dame Grease on the disc.

As anyone who heard Hell Hath No Fury is painfully aware, Clipse's relationships with their various labels have often been a bit strained. Billboard.com explains the convoluted history: They began the decade with Star Trak, distributed at that point by Arista. Arista underwent drastic restructuring in 2004, its artists split between J and Jive. Star Trak was snapped up by Interscope, however. Despite Clipse's attempts to break their four-album deal with Jive and move with the Neptunes-run label to Interscope, Jive refused. A lawsuit between the group and the label was eventually settled, and Jive picked up a distribution deal for the group's Re-Up Gang Records catalog, yet famously continued to move the release of Hell Hath No Fury around until it finally emerged last fall.

Of Clipse's relationship with the Neptunes, Malice told Billboard, "I can honestly say that we were all friends before the music and will be friends to the end. Everything is business. If we had our way, we would always be on Star Trak. But it's what's working for you and what's not. We just want good energy, and Columbia has both the urgency and the muscle."

Naked Raygun Tour, Release CD/DVD Retrospective
Play Riot Fest, appear in Chicago punk doc along with Big Black, Effigies

Where to begin with the recently "reunited for good" Chicago punk vets Naked Raygun? A tour? A headlining spot at a hometown festival? A film? A career retrospective? Yeah, let's go with that one.

November 6, Riot Fest Records will unveil What Poor Gods We Do Make: The Story and Music Behind Naked Raygun, a DVD/CD combo of Naked Raygun favorites from across the years. Two days prior to Poor Gods' release, at Chicago's Reggie's Rock Club, the band will be on hand to screen the disc and sell a few copies before its proper street date. There's also a promise of "an after-party with live music." I wonder what they're insinuating?

Riot Fest: not just a label, but an actual festival. This year's Riot Fest takes place at Chicago's Congress Theater November 17-18. The first night finds 2006 Riot Fest alumni Naked Raygun yet again at the top of the bill; this time around that bill also includes Stiff Little Fingers, 7Seconds, Nekromantix, the Queers, and a whole lot more. The next night finds Bad Brains taking the top spot, with the Casualties, Dillinger Four, the Bollweevils, and a slew of others providing support. A Riot Fest-sponsored gig the night before at Double Door promising "mystery guests" has been canceled though, alas.

As for that tour: Naked Raygun will be joined by Cali punks $wingin' Utter$ and Chicago's Shot Baker on a string of West Coast dates following the band's set at Riot Fest.

And the film? It's called You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977-1984, and it premieres November 24 at Chicago's Portage Theater. In addition to Naked Raygun, the flick also covers Big Black, the Effigies, and many more key acts in the fertile landscape of early Windy City punk. [MORE...]

Natalie Portman Curates Indie Rock Charity Mix
Includes Devendra Banhart, Beirut, the Shins (duh), will change other peoples' lives

Noted Shins fan Natalie Portman has reunited with the boys in her big Garden State headphones for a charity compilation she has curated, which will hit iTunes on October 30, according to a report from EW.com.

In addition to a Shins remix, Big Change: Songs for FINCA includes tracks by Antony and the Johnsons, Norah Jones, and exclusives from Devendra Banhart, M. Ward, and Beirut. The Beirut song is called, um, ''My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille',' (risqué!) and you can hear it on the Entertainment Weekly website.

Beirut is apparently Portman's "new favorite band," and the love is mutual. Zach Condon and co. apparently asked Portman to sing on "Prostitute": "I wanted to so badly, but it didn't work out. I hope they extend the offer again,'' she told EW.com.

There are 16 tracks in all, and the net proceeds from sales of the comp will benefit FINCA International, a charity organization that provides financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs. Portman-- FINCA's Ambassador of Hope-- has worked with the organization since 2003, according to the report.

Portman also revealed herself as something of a freak folkie to EW.com, saying "I love this whole movement now with Antony and Devendra and CocoRosie and Sufjan Stevens," though she also claimed, "Stevie Wonder is probably my No. 1 [favorite artist]. And Radiohead, the White Stripes-- they're modern-day classics."

She also downplayed her role in launching the Shins into the stratosphere, telling EW.com, "The Shins are the ones who created their own success. No one is gonna think a sound is great just because I say so. They hear the songs, and that's what decides it for them."

New Ballet Set to El-P's Music
Everybody's doing a ballet dance now

Photo by Jason Bergman

After the "future of music" cries have died down, what's a prog-hopper like El-P to do, other than make good records and run a successful label? How about becoming the future of dance by joining the ranks of artists used to soundtrack ballets? With the help of dance company Chicago Dance Crash (CDC), he will do just that.

CDC will close out its 2007 season with Destructible Daytrip, an original ballet set to El-P's music. According to a press release, the show is "a mixture of ballet and boogie," and CDC Artistic Director Kyle Vincent Terry has choreographed to El-P's music for two years in preparation for the project.

Terry has also kept a weekly updated blog of the show's progress, documenting everything from casting to closing night (when it happens).

Destructible Daytrip will run on Fridays and Saturdays from October 26 (that's tonight!) through November 3 at Chicago's Ruth Page Center for the Arts.

UPDATE: El-P would like to clarify that he was not directly involved in the creation of Destructible Daytrip. He gave us the following quote: "The whole thing sounds pretty intriguing, but I didn't know about it until Pitchfork put the article up. I'm flattered that the company is into my stuff. I wish I was there to see it."

Wilco Nix UK Gigs, Add 2008 Dates

Photo by Kathryn Yu

Looks like somebody in Wilco's camp forgot to save the date. According to the band's website, the good ship S.S. Wilco won't be docking in UK ports of call this fall, as "a scheduling conflict" has forced the cancellation of a pack of English gigs. Take heart though, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, and London: Wilco "hope to schedule new UK dates soon."

And while one corner of the world gets the shaft, another will be seeing clouds of white and skies of Sky Blue. Wilco has added a March 2008 tour of Australia and New Zealand (smart move-- it's still summer there for most of March) since our last report, popping off March 18 in Sydney.

Meanwhile, residents of Belgium, Spain, and Ireland needn't worry, as Wilco will still head their way next month.

Thanks to reader Daniel Walmsley for the tip-off. [MORE...]

Thievery Corp's Garza Reveals Galaxy Details, Tour

Thievery Corporation co-CEO Rob Garza has taken his time releasing the self-titled debut from his Dust Galaxy solo project. Pitchfork initially reported the discovery of the Galaxy right around this time last year, and Garza has finally set a date for the album's release.

Still studded with names like producer Brendan Lynch (Primal Scream, Paul Weller), Jerry Busher (Fugazi's later touring lineup), James Canty (Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, the Make-Up), and Ashish Vyas (GoGoGo Airheart), Dust Galaxy will come out November 6 via ESL.

Busher and Vyas will also join Garza for a Dust Galaxy tour starting November 14 in Toronto. Each date of the tour will feature not only the full-band experience but also DJ sets by Garza and Ursula 1000.

Thievery Corporation have a pair of shows and a DJ set of their own, all in Vegas tonight (October 26) and tomorrow. [MORE...]

Queens of the Stone Age to Play Salt Mine, Add Dates
Cover Brian Eno and Billy Idol?

Photo by Chris Owyoung

Now that their "Duluth Tour" is over, Queens of the Stone Age have to get their non-traditional touring kicks somehow. And since we already know they have 1.) a refined palate (see: their appearance on an upcoming holiday episode of chef Anthony Bourdain's Travel Channel show) and 2.) an affinity for all things rock (see: their music and the "Stone Age" in their name), the announcement that the band will play one mile underground in a former German salt mine next month seems just about perfect.

The mine is in Sondershausen, Germany (check out pictures here), and the show is on November 20. And the venue isn't the only special thing about the performance: Queens plan to unearth (I'm sorry) plenty of songs they have never before played live for the exclusive unplugged set.

Unfortunately, the show is only open to winners of various worldwide competitions (including some radio promotions), but the band has plenty of regular ol' dates as well, including a few more UK shows in February. Their next show is tomorrow night, October 27, in Las Vegas at the Vegoose festival.

According to NME.com, QOTSA will release the single for Era Vulgaris slow jam "Make It Wit Chu" on November 26. It will be available as a digital EP and as two limited 7"s. The download includes "alternative versions" of "Make It Wit Chu" as well as-- quoth NME-- "new tracks 'White Wedding' and 'Needles in a Camel's Eye'." The first 7" features "White Wedding" and an acoustic version of "Make It", while the second features "Needles" and the album version of the single.

And if those aren't Billy Idol and Brian Eno covers, we'll eat a cup of salt. [MORE...]

Busdriver Hits the Road Tonight for Fall Tour
Children forced to walk to school

Busdriver-- whose birth name, Regan Farquhar, is so awesome it makes a stage name seem awfully unnecessary-- will get a chance to test just how weather resistant his RoadKillOvercoat is with a fall tour in support of the record.

Joining Busdriver on most dates of the tour will be Daedelus and Antimc, but he also has dates with Beans, the Octopus Project, and Girl Talk. Then again, who doesn't have a show with Girl Talk coming up in the next couple months?

Busdriver's tour kicks off tonight (October 26) in Salt Lake City. [MORE...]

Beanie Sigel to Offer The Solution in December

Beans is back! Beanie Sigel, Philly rapper and longtime Jay-Z BFF, is set to release The Solution December 11 on State Property/Roc-A-Fella.

The 17-track follow-up to 2005's fantastic The B.Coming features guest spots from Scarface, Styles P, Raheem DeVaughn, and-- on first single "All the Above", which hit Forkcast in late August-- the incomparable R. Kelly. True to Beanie's heartfelt, eclectic style, "I'm In" samples Luther Vandross' "Make Me a Believer", "Children" is, according to a press release, "soulful Marvin Gaye rendition focusing on the problems in the community among children and their missing fathers," and "The Day" "taps into Beanie's rock side." Production comes from the likes of the Runners, Eric Hudson, Harry & Alex, and Dre & Vidal.

As Sigel tells it in the press release, "I consider myself relevant in the rap game at all times. After you party and do all that, now the real world kicks in. The pain, the stress, agony. The lessons you learn. Your come ups, your downfalls. The real world-- which I deal with in my music-- is always relevant. All the shit [one] might go through in the course of a day is on my album. I'm talking about religion, spiritual[ity], getting a peace of mind. All that counts and all that's in my music." Ringtone rap this Solution ain't.

And the good news keeps rolling in: Beanie pops up on "Ignorant Shit" from Jay-Z's American Gangster album, has a song on that tribute to Reasonable Doubt, and, according to Billboard.com, Sigel was recently cleared of theft charges in a bizarre case involving a rental car. Seems Beanie rented a 2007 Nissan Altima back in July but failed to return the car or contact the company. In September, the rental company reported the car as being stolen. However, on October 5, at the very same time detectives arrived at Beanie's Landsale, Pennsylvania home to question him about the missing whip, the car was returned. Though he tallied up five grand in late fees, the charges were dropped.

One hopes Beanie has similar luck landing the role of the Notorious B.I.G. in a forthcoming biopic on the slain rapper. According to various reports, Sigel recently auditioned for a role in the film, which he claims he'd treat with the same intensity Jamie Foxx brought to Ray. No word on when Beanie can expect a callback, but dude can rap, and he held his own in State Property, so I say give it to him.

Photos: Bright Eyes / Simon Joyner [Omaha, NE; 10/24/07]

Photos by Paparazzi by Appointment

One Percent Productions, an Omaha-based booking company, celebrated its 10-year anniversary last night at the Waiting Room Lounge (which the company books) with Nebraska's favorite son, Conor Oberst.

Simon Joyner opened for Bright Eyes at this one-off show, and Oberst was joined on stage by Gillian Welch and frequent collaborator and present Bright Eyes member Mike Mogis for a couple of tunes, including a cover of Joyner's "Joy Division". During the encore, Oberst and Mogis also gave their rendition of Tom Petty's "Walls (Circus)". More photos and Bright Eyes tour dates below.

BRIGHT EYES








SIMON JOYNER



[MORE...]

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