R.E.M. Reveal Accelerate Tracklist
Band spotted taping music video in sex shop

Video: R.E.M.: Orange Crush (live) [from the R.E.M. LIVE DVD/LP]

Liars, No Age Kick off Joint Tour Tonight
No Age add spring dates

What's a busted-up back when there's rock and gosh-darned roll to attend to? Nothing, it turns out, to Angus Andrew, who's not going to let his unfortunate recent run-in with a pillow stand (crouch?) in the way of the tour that Liars and No Age are set to embark on starting tonight in San Francisco.

In a MySpace blog posted today, the band notes that Angus, "having been 'adjusted' by Beverly Hills most established chiropractors and plastic surgeons... can now tenderly walk, and smile, to some extent." They add that, though they're happily steaming ahead on the tour, "performing will be tough and likely unorthodox." As opposed to all those totally normal Liars gigs of the past.

Uninjured and sonically injurious as ever, No Age will fill their opening slots with plenty of Nouns, which hits Sub Pop May 6. Both No Age and Liars have a date with All Tomorrow's Parties once May rolls around, with No Age playing the ATP vs. Pitchfork fest May 9-11 in Rye, England and Liars performing the following weekend in Minehead at the Explosions in the Sky ATP.

No Age have tacked on a bit of a UK tour surrounding their ATP appearance as well. (Via AngryApe.) [MORE...]

Video: Liars: Houseclouds [from the Liars LP]
Video: No Age: Sleeper Hold/Neck Escaper [live at Other Music]

Cadence Weapon Brings Babies on Tour
Born Ruffians change diapers

MP3: Cadence Weapon: In Search of the Youth Crew [from the forthcoming Afterparty Babies LP]

Raconteurs, Roots, Costello Play New Orleans Jazz Fest
With Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Bettye LaVette, lots more

As always, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (aka Jazz Fest) ought not be taken completely literally where its name is concerned. Sure, there will be plenty of jazz at the 2008 incarnation, which goes down April 25-27 and May 1-4 at the Big Easy's Fair Grounds Race Course. But bopping along amongst the jazzbos are a heck of a lot of other great musicians from genres far and wide.

Performers include Jack White and his Raconteurs, the Roots, Elvis Costello-- who'll appear alongside New Orleans legend Allen Touissant-- Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Keyshia Cole, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Bettye LaVette, the Neville Brothers, Robert Plant ant Alison Krauss, Burning Spear, Ozomatli with Chali 2na, Randy Newman... We could continue, but we might still be typing by the time the festivities kick off in April.

And, if seven days of genre-bending party wasn't enough, the incomparable Little Richard will perform at a fest fundraiser on April 24 at the New Orleans Riverside Hilton.

Little Annie Covers U2, Sinatra, Brel on Good Pianos LP

MP3: Little Annie: Freddie and Me [from the Songs from the Coal Mine Canary LP]

The Ex Release Jem Cohen-Directed Live DVD

MP3: The Ex: Various Tracks

Grizzly Bear Co-Headline Show With L.A. Philharmonic

Photo by Jana Green

You know you're doing something right when you've got an orchestra willing to open your next gig for you. (Though having Radio-freakin'-head play one of your songs on the radio is kinda nice too, I bet.)

That's just the cushy position Grizzly Bear will find themselves in on March 1 at L.A.'s Walt Disney Concert Hall, when the Los Angeles Philharmonic warms up the crowd before their set.

Though there will be no onstage collaboration between the two musical entities, classical music buffs Grizzly Bear have assisted the orchestra in selecting pieces that "reflect the music that inspired Grizzly Bear to pursue their own musical endeavors". So they'll be doing that JoJo song, then?

As you'll recall, this isn't the first time the L.A. Philharmonic has come across a wily Bear: Daniel Rossen performed as part of "Songs of the City" earlier this month, put on by the Philharmonic at the Disney Concert Hall.

I hope Will Oldham plays at Country Bear Hall someday.

Grizzly Bear's only other scheduled appearance at the moment is at April's MusicNOW fest in Cincinnati. [MORE...]

Stream: Grizzly Bear: Little Brother (Electric) [from the Friend EP]

Mogwai Reissue Young Team for Tenth Anniversary

Glasgow soundsmiths Mogwai are spending the first few months of 2008 finishing their follow-up to 2006's Mr. Beast. According to their website, the plan is to mix it in March and hopefully release it in the summer, at which point they'll head out on tour.

Before they jump into the future, however, Mogwai will revisit the past with a reissue of their 1997 debut album, Young Team. Scheduled for a tentative April release on Chemikal Underground, the reissue will feature a remastered version of the album accompanied by expanded liner notes and eight bonus tracks. The exact tracklist of the reissue is not yet available, but we'll bet money that at least one of the bonus tracks cracks the six-minute mark.

Thanks to reader Jono Henderson for the tip.

Stream: Mogwai: Time and a Half [from the Zidane: A 21st-Century Portrait OST]

Ghislain Poirier Serves Up New LP on Ninja Tune, Tours

MP3: Ghislain Poirier: Bastard Bass Mix

Ex-Karate Frontman Farina's Glorytellers Issue Debut
Band plans March tour

MP3: Glorytellers: Awake at the Wheel [from the forthcoming Glorytellers LP]

The Long Blondes Extend Tour

Longer? For sure. Blonder? Eh, not particularly. But more awesome? It would just have to be.

The Long Blondes, that saucy Sheffield set with the fancy duds and the killer tunes, have added a whole slew of UK dates to their previously announced run, leaving them with roughly twice as many opportunities to bring new romantics together this spring.

And while we're on the subject of togetherness, save the date: the Long Blondes' sophomore LP, Couples, is due April 7 in the UK and April 8 in the U.S. from Rough Trade. A single for "Guilt" will precede the album on March 24 in the UK. [MORE...]

Stream: The Long Blondes: The Unbearable Lightness of Building [from the Tate Modern's Tate Tracks]

Bjork Cancels Show, Plans New "Innocence" Single

Front page photo by Ashley Williamson

Björk's never been shy when it comes to belting it out, but that kind of dedication can take its toll. After a gig last night as part of the Sydney Festival, Björk was given doctor's orders to rest her swollen vocal cords. As a result, she's cancelled her appearance at the Big Day Out festival's Sydney stop tomorrow night (1/25).

It's hoped that Björk will recover in time for her appearance in Melbourne on the 28th, and no additional dates have been cancelled at this time. The Sydney Big Day Out will go on as planned, with every other act moving up in the roster. Because Björk's kind of a big draw, Big Day Out are offering ticketholders who don't want to attend a Björk-less Day Out a full refund, to be obtained at the point of purchase. Get better, Björk!

In what's becoming a trend for Björk of late, she's set to release yet another cut from Volta on a big, fancy 12"/CD/DVD single. The set is, again, limited to 10,000 copies, and will be available for preorder via One Little Indian in the UK starting January 29. The audio portion of your program features "Innocence" remixes from Simian Mobile Disco, Ghostigital, Alvo Noto, Jimmy Douglas, and Mark Stent, while the DVD features the winner and several runners-up from Björk's "Innocence" video contest.

Hey, and while we're at it, we might as well mention Travis Sullivan's Björkestra, whose Enjoy!-- a collection of Björk tunes reimagined for an 18-piece modern jazz orchestra-- is out this very moment on Koch Records. [MORE...]

Stream: Bjork: Innocence [from the Volta LP]

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