Photos: Mum / Our Brother the Native / Tom Brosseau [Los Angeles, CA; 10/24/07]

Photos by Akmal Naim

Icelandic rockers Múm kicked off their fall tour a day late, following a canceled Solana Beach gig meant to go down Tuesday night. Instead, their journey began last night at Los Angeles' Orpheum Theatre.

Playing mostly selections from their new LP, Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, the troupe rocked for nearly an hour and a half, with labelmates Our Brother the Native and Tom Brosseau opening the show. More photos and tour dates below.

And while we're on the topic of Múm, let it be known that the band has another single due in the UK December 17 on FatCat. This one takes Go Go number "Marmalade Fires", backs it with "Rhubarbidoo" (the video for which recently ran in Forkcast), and delivers both via 7" and digital download.

MÚM








OUR BROTHER THE NATIVE




TOM BROSSEAU

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Os Mutantes Working on New Tunes With Tom Ze

Photo by Sanchez and Kitahara

Os Mutantes didn't reunite after a 30+ year absence just to play some shows and hang their axes back on the wall. Sure, there's the Os Mutantes Live at the Barbican Theatre, London 2006 live album that comes to the U.S. via Luaka Bop on November 13. Still, nothing compares to the promise of new studio material, and the Mutants are as happy to provide the new tunes as we are excited to hear them.

Talking with Billboard.com, Mutantes guitarist Sergio Dias revealed, "We already have about seven or nine new tunes," in preparation for what will hopefully be a new full-length from the band.

Adding to the excitement, Dias mentioned that "[fellow Brazilian and Luaka Bop labelmate] Tom Zé is my writing partner now, and so far it has been really wonderful."

The Billboard.com report also makes a passing mention of a São Paulo birthday celebration on January 25, where the band tentatively plans to unveil some of the new tunes. Also tentatively planned for January is the U.S. release of the DVD corresponding to the Live at the Barbican LP.

Photos: Stars / New Buffalo [Philadelphia, PA; 10/24/07]

Photos by Michael Alan Goldberg

Having already left a certain Pitchfork senior news editor star-struck, Canada's Stars continued shooting across the continent. Last night they fell on Philadelphia's Trocadero for a Star-studded gala in celebration of In Our Bedroom After the War, with labelmate New Buffalo opening. Stellar? You bet.

If you're seeing Stars, double check your dates and scope more photos below.

STARS






NEW BUFFALO

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Saul Williams Gives Away New Reznor-Produced LP
Yeah, it's kind of like that other thing

Activist, poet, and musician Saul Williams has laid out the unique circumstances surrounding the release of his latest LP, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!.

The Trent Reznor-produced album will be issued digitally through Williams' website under the aegis of the Fader Label, with an In Rainbows-esque payment mechanism: listeners can opt to fork over a $5 "contribution" via Williams' website and get NiggyTardust! in their choice of DRM-free 192kbps or 320kbps mp3s, or the giant, uncompressed FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format. If you're a bit light at the moment, Saul's got you, though you cheapskates will have to settle for 192kbps mp3s.

Preregistration for the album is open now, and what's more, you'll only have to wait until Halloween (October 31, duh) to get it. As Reznor tells it on the Nine Inch Nails website, "There are obvious similarities in how Radiohead just released their new record and the way we've chosen to. After thinking about this way too much, I feel we've improved upon their idea in a few profound ways that benefit the consumer." Particularly the nerdy customer up in arms about a couple of kilobits per second.

Enough business; let's talk music. NiggyTardust! features guest turns by Reznor, CX Kidtronik, Thavius Beck, and others, and was mixed by Alan Moulder. As Williams tells it in the press release, though, it's really a joint effort between himself and Reznor. "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! is the lovechild of Trent and me," Williams said, and Reznor agreed, adding that this is the "most involved [he's] been with any project outside NIN since [Marilyn Manson's 1996 LP] Antichrist Superstar."

Williams believes the album's overarching theme gives him more room to expand on the album's content onstage. "The NiggyTardust! concept sets me free to do more on stage with costume, etc. than one might expect from a regular Saul Williams show. It allows me to put my theater training to use. I've also thought long and hard about all the discussion surrounding racial epithets etc. and chose this title as a means of furthering the dialogue while also showing how creativity will outlive and outshine hatred of any kind." Plus, you can, like, dance to it!

Williams has a number of live appearances on the way. Those dates-- and the NiggyTardust! tracklist-- after the jump. [MORE...]

Sly and the Family Stone Schedule U.S. Shows

Look alive, fella: there's a riot goin' on. Funk-soul legends Sly and the Family Stone have scheduled a pair of shows-- early and late-- December 7 at New York City's B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

These are the first proper gigs Stone has played in the States in quite some time, and-- apart from an appearance at the 2006 Grammy Awards, a brief, troubled European tour this summer, and a couple cameos here and there-- among the only chances fans of the Fam have had to see the band in the decades since their artistic apex.

The shows will feature much of the Family Stone's early 1970s lineup, including Sly, Rose and Freddie Stone, Cynthia Robinson, and Pat Rizzo. No word on whether the gigs are part of a larger tour, but if the performances from this past summer's North Sea Jazz Festival we Forkcasted a little while back are any indication, when he's in the right frame of mind, Sly's still got plenty to sing about.

Decemberists, Death Cab, Lily Allen on XRT Live Comp
Plus: Johnny Marr, Calexico, Pretenders, Snow Patrol, Warren Zevon

93XRT (WXRT) is, after all, Chicago's finest rock (this is their claim, anyhow). So who better than they to put some of the finer rock and pop acts together in service of charity and, you know, general rockingness?

For the tenth volume of ONXRT: Live from the Archives-- their ongoing compilation series collecting live performances from the XRT studios and around the Chicago area-- newish recordings from the Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Calexico, Lily Allen, and Snow Patrol rub elbows with a trio of archival entries from the Pretenders, a pre-Modest Mouse Johnny Marr, and the late Warren Zevon.

All that eclecticism is in service of a good cause or two: proceeds from sales of the disc will go to support the Little City Foundation and the Greater Illinois Chapter of the MS Society. ONXRT 10 is available now through 93XRT's website and at Chicagoland Starbucks locations. [MORE...]

The Pipettes Kick Off Rescheduled Tour

Remember when the Pipettes postponed all those North American tour dates and how heartbroken you were that it would be forever before you got a chance to see the well-patterned ladies in person, only to have your sense of right restored when they quickly rescheduled them?

Well, now's your chance to forget the incident ever happened, as the Pipettes commence their North American takeover tonight, October 25, in Los Angeles. Armed with a new color scheme to complement their trusty polka dots, they'll tour here for a month before hopping over to Japan and, later, Australia for some intercontinental live action.

NOTE: The San Diego show has been canceled due to the fires. [MORE...]

Mac McCaughan Discusses "Future of Radio" in Senate

As evidenced by the cover of the most recent Portastatic record, Mac McCaughan can rock a suit even in the most adverse conditions. And while his appearance yesterday, October 24, in Congress was hardly Armageddon, he still performed stylishly under pressure.

The Superchunk/Portastatic frontman and Merge label head spoke to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at a hearing called "The Future of Radio" (unrelated to the House of Representatives' Girl Talk-referencing copyright hearing). According to the Committee's website, the purpose of the hearing was to "assess the state of innovation and competition in the radio market."

McCaughan's testimony stressed the important role non-commercial radio has in introducing independent musicians to wider audiences, citing Merge cases like the Arcade Fire and Spoon, both of whom had albums debut in the Billboard Top Ten this year. He also touched on the power of the internet and the need to maintain network neutrality so that commercial and technological experimentation can continue.

Toward the end of his testimony, McCaughan urged the Committee to resist corporate pressure to loosen ownership restrictions in order to avoid a potential media monopoly: "It's been widely reported that the FCC is considering altering the media ownership rules again and loosening the local ownership caps to allow major radio groups to buy even more stations in each market. No matter what your tastes in entertainment or news, if you value localism, competition and diversity, Congress and the FCC must recognize that further deregulation is not the answer."

He concluded by saying, "Artists who thrive outside of the commercial realm depend on and deserve open access to public platforms such as the airwaves and the internet. Likewise, communities and citizens should have access to localized and diverse media. This is not just a means of doing business, but also an important facet of American life that needs to be nurtured and protected."

The testimony is available in PDF format here and as a streaming video here; we recommend checking the whole thing out, even if only for fashion tips.

Xiu Xiu Reveal New Album Details

Photo by Kathryn Yu

Boy sopranos and sad pony guerilla girls, rejoice: Women As Lovers, the latest LP from the weirdest of all warblers Jamie Stewart and his Xiu Xiu, can be yours January 29 from Kill Rock Stars.

The Lovers sessions were held between what has of late become the definitive Xiu Xiu lineup: Stewart of course, longtime collaborator Caralee McElroy, Ches Smith on drums, and Devin Hoff on bass. The disc-- which features previously mentioned contributions from Deerhoof's John Dieterich, Swans/Angels of Light's Michael Gira, and saxophonist Howard Wiley, plus mixing from Deerhoof's Greg Saunier-- purports itself to be "more approachable or communicative on a basic human level" than any Xiu Xiu banger that's proceeded it, which we're guessing means at least a 15% increase in the "empassioned yelp" quotient. Should be fun!

In other Xiu Xiu news, that Polaroid book of theirs just got bumped back to next month. Can't rush art, I suppose. [MORE...]

OiNK Founder: "I Haven't Done Anything Wrong"

Tuesday, we reported that 24-year-old Middlesborough, England resident Alan Ellis-- founder and key operator of the recently terminated music torrent portal OiNK-- had been brought in for police questioning regarding his involvement in the site, which directed users to untold amounts of illegal and, in some cases, pre-release music files.

Ellis, out on two months' police bail following his arrest and detainment on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and copyright infringement, spoke to Britain's The Daily Telegraph newspaper about the recent charges (via Idolator). Though Ellis declined to comment on the donations he accepted from OiNK users, he insisted, "I haven't done anything wrong. I don't believe my website breaks the law. They don't understand how it works." He added, "When I set up the site I didn't think I was doing anything illegal and I still don't," and that, since "there is no music sold on the site," it shouldn't be a target of investigation.

Ellis went on to mention that "people who download music also buy CDs as well. A lot of people download music on the internet to get a taste of it and then later buy the CD. But I don't sell music to people, I just direct them to it. If somebody wants to illegally download music they are going to do it whether my site is there or not." He went on to forecast that "if this goes to court it is going to set a huge precedent. It will change the internet as we know it."

On a roll, Ellis continued. "My site is no different to something like Google. If Google directed someone to a site [where] they can illegally download music, [Google is] doing the same as what I have been accused of. I am not making any OiNK users break the law. People don't pay to use the site."

As for any former OiNK users wondering whether to start sleeping with one eye open, well, perhaps. Sadly, Ellis' quote above indicates he may be suggesting that, yes, OiNK users are breaking the law but he himself is merely a middleman. A message on the OiNK homepage reads "A criminal investigation continues into the identities and activities of the site's users." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Cleveland (England) police-- who handled Ellis' case-- told the Telegraph that "it is too early to tell if we will go after individuals, it all depends on what we find."

Goldfrapp Wrap LP; Gregory, Portishead's Utley Collab

Just in case you'd gotten to worrying Goldfrapp rode a white horse off into the sunset, put those fears to rest; they may not have graced the Pitchfork news pages in a little while, but truth told, the pair has been hard at work on their fourth LP, the follow-up to 2005's Supernature. And guess what? C'est fini!

But don't take our word for it. Here's the band, via MySpace: "We have finally emerged from our beavering hole in Somerset and have an album! Hooray! Feels really good to have finished it and we can't wait for you to hear what we have been doing.

"It's very different to Supernature, so it might come as a bit of a shock to some of you. We had fun making it and loved doing something that is in complete contrast to the last album, even though sometimes it took a bit of courage to steer as far away as we did on some of the tunes. It's come from the heart and was made with love so we hope you will be into it too."

Considering the stylistic miles between Felt Mountain and Black Cherry, think we can handle a few more "shocks" and "complete contrasts" from these guys.

No more details just yet, but Goldfrapp do promise a website update soon, so keep clicking. And, while you're at it, check this: Goldfrapp's Will Gregory has put together an original score for Victor Sjöström's 1924 film He Who Gets Slapped and rallied together some special friends to premiere it.

Portishead's Adrian Utley and others will join Gregory for two December events showcasing the new score; catch those with but a click. [MORE...]

"Severe Illness" Tanks Underworld Tour

2007 hasn't been terribly kind to Underworld. While this year has allowed the UK electronic duo to release its latest opus and first album proper in five years-- Oblivion With Bells-- it also left member Rick Smith injured in a riot, and has now dealt the band another fateful hand: according to a statement from Underworld, the remainder of their European Oblivion tour is off.

"It is with great regret that we have had to pull out of the European leg of the current Underworld tour due to severe illness in the band," reads the statement. "More details will follow, but in the meantime, we appreciate your patience and understanding."

It is unknown at this time whether the "severe illness" in question is connected to Smith's riot injury.

The cancelled dates, recounted below, would have begun October 26 in Munich and wrapped up November 10 in Ghent, Belgium. A run of late November dates in Asia is still on for the moment. [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.)