Roots, TVOTR Members Cover Civil Rights Song for Film

Executive produced by Danny Glover for Louverture Films, Soundtrack for a Revolution is a forthcoming documentary showcasing "some of America's top contemporary musicians as they perform new and vibrant renditions of the Civil Rights Movement's freedom songs-- songs originally sung by civil rights protesters in mass meetings, on picket lines, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells throughout the American South."

According to an OK Player report yesterday, the Roots have teamed with TV on the Radio members Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe to record one of these songs for the film and its corresponding soundtrack. Roots MC Black Thought reportedly sang on the track.

Since the film is presently in production, there's no word quite yet when and where it will surface. Okayplayer reports that the Blind Boys of Alabama, Soulive, and Anthony Hamilton also collaborated on a track, while Corey Smyth (who co-founded Blacksmith Music with Talib Kweli) devised the Soundtrack project and Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman are directing.

The Roots, meanwhile, have been preparing their Game Theory follow-up under the title Rising Down. According to an NME.com report, Common, Mos Def, and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy (fresh off production work with Lupe Fiasco) will appear on the record, while a separate OK Player report indicates that Q-Tip and Fiasco himself are involved as well, among others.

The Roots also have a few shows lined up, including spots at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the awfully douchey looking King of the Mountain extreme snow sports bonanza (which also features the awfully un-douchey Dinosaur Jr.). [MORE...]

Kid Sister Signs to Downtown Records
"Downtown is little! But they're not too little to get things done. They're like a medium. A medium fry."

Photo by Brendan Smith

"The other day, we were doing a show with Akon," Kid Sister tells me apropos of not so much, "which was ridiculous. I was unloading my baggage and going through my stuff, my outfits for the show, and inside my luggage, I found a [Midwest grocery/drug store chain] Jewel-Osco sale paper. I'm like, 'Really? It's all out there for the world to see. Ooh, ten for ten!'"

These weird juxtapositions-- playing with Akon one night, clipping celery coupons the next-- seem to follow Kid Sister around. There was her "Pro Nails" video, shot on the cheap in a Chicago nail salon with a pop-in from one of the biggest rappers in the world. There's the retail job she still keeps in between tour stops, dropping in to sell children's clothes on Black Friday just because "it's the right thing to do, you know?" The woman known to her mom as Melissa Young is something of a celebrity, but nobody seems to have told her that.

But she's moving up. Kid Sister has just signed to Downtown Records, home of Gnarls Barkley, Spank Rock, Mos Def, Art Brut, Justice, and other artists you generally wouldn't think of as bargain shoppers. (Well, maybe Art Brut.) On the phone with Pitchfork Thursday afternoon, she insists "I wasn't really anywhere before, so it isn't a move! Just a move from my kitchen to the living room, and then to Downtown." And then, as always, she laughed.

Still, one has to wonder about Fool's Gold, the label owned and operated by her boyfriend, DJ A-Trak, and DJ Nick Catchdubs. Fool's Gold has released two Kid Sister singles, "Control" and "Pro Nails". She explains, "They're still involved as far as packaging goes, and A&Ring the project. Everything we worked on before we will continue to work on with a little bit of help! Put a little proton pack on our backs for a little bit of a boost!"

Kid Sister says the label decision has been quite a while in the making. "We've been talking about and discussing, figuring out what would be the best home for me in terms of a label with a little bit more muscle. That's been going on for months and months, nine months or a year. Vice was trying to get me over a year ago, and I was just like "hmmm." It was a developing deal, and I feel like you never really have to go for those. So I kinda let that go, and maybe it's good that I did!"

Kid Sister will issue her debut album, tentatively titled Koko B. Ware (after the pro wrestler), "hopefully June/Julyish." "It's almost done, actually! I've just gotta get into the studio!" She adds, "I haven't had a second to breathe since the ["Pro Nails"] video dropped. I'm only telling you because you asked, but it's one of those things where, did I ever expect it to get this crazy this fast? No. 'Cause it had been a pretty steady kind of ascension. It wasn't meteoric like somebody might call it. For me it was nice and slow and steady and good, and then the video dropped and the 'Benny Hill' song came on."

Then she sang the Benny Hill song for a minute. [MORE...]

Nick Cave, Dizzee, Jose Gonzalez Play PLUG Awards
Also: St. Vincent, Patton Oswalt

Time is running out if you were planning to use various pseudonyms to stuff the PLUG Awards online ballot boxes with votes for Sally Shapiro as Female Artist of the Year (not that anyone I know would do such a thing). The polls close February 8!

Which means it's high time to get excited about the upcoming PLUG ceremony for the handing out of award-stuffs. As hosts and guest performers are concerned, this year's festivities-- which go down March 6 at Terminal 5 in New York City, as you know-- more or less follow the winning example laid out by last year's festivities.

You have your veteran act and Impact Award recipient: last year it was Stephen Malkmus, this year it's Nick Cave, who'll perform with the Bad Seeds. You have your indie parvenus, here represented by St. Vincent and José González. You have your token hip-hop act: Dizzee Rascal.

And of course you have your funny-guy host, drawn from the upper echelons of indie comedy. In 2007 it was David Cross; for 2008, say hello to (the much funnier, IMO) Patton Oswalt.

Which is all to say this should add up to an excellent cavalcade of indie-sized delights. Will Battles and Of Montreal capitalize on all the nominations? Will Vampire Weekend sweep the whole damn thing on write-in votes? Will there be an upset in the category of Female Artist of the Year involving a certain Swedish disco princess?? Consider our breath bated.

And in the interest of full disclosure, we should remind you that several Pitchfork staffers were involved in the PLUG nomination process.

Black Lips Kick Off Tour With Added In-Stores
Also play Camelot for Kids benefit in Chicago

Photo by Daniel Arnold

Me, I wouldn't take those Black Lips anywhere with a "you break it, you buy it" policy; whatever it is, it seems like they'd break it, and I'd wind up with the check.

So the shopkeeps who have invited this wily bunch into their emporiums of commerce better be aware of the risks they're taking, lining up a mess of Black Lips in-store appearances during the band's forthcoming tour (which kicks off tonight in the ATL, their hometown). But, oh, the rewards: those roughshod Black Lips, tearing it up live and in person amongst the record racks like bulls in a china shop. Remember, lads: look, don't touch.

And if we can trust the Black Lips with our precious vinyl and CDs, perhaps we can trust them with our children as well? On March 1, between an in-store and their proper gig at Logan Square Auditorium, Black Lips will invite youngsters to witness their soundcheck as part of a Camelot for Kids program. Camelot for Kids, as you may recall, seeks "to help children with extraordinary needs" and has previously enlisted Busdriver and Fujiya & Miyagi to this end.

Finally, these pages have been abuzz with Lips of Black of late, so let's run it down: the band has a little new live thing for your downloading pleasure, a few noteworthy tourmates, a penchant for team sports and, of course, big plans for the second weekend in May. [MORE...]

New Pornographers and Okkervil River Team for Tour

Time for 2008's first big indie rock mega-tour! In this corner: Carl Newman and his New Pornographers. In that corner: Will Sheff and his Okkervil River.

Who will charm us more with their witty lyrics and soaring melodies? Who will inspire the biggest sing-along? Who will induce the most swoons?

Find out this April, when they go head to head in North America's rock'n'roll venues! [MORE...]

Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke, Announces Solo Tour

On previous tour-only EPs, Colin Meloy has sung Morrissey and Shirley Collins. Now, he's taking on quite a formidable target: soul legend Sam Cooke. Yup, the Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke EP will only be available on the Decemberists frontman's upcoming solo tour.

This has the makings of a total disaster. But I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.

Wait, what Colin Meloy solo tour? Ah yes, the one previously alluded to now has a full list of dates, taking our man across the country from April 7 to May 3. The trek is in support of Meloy's live solo album, Colin Meloy Sings Live!, due April 8 on Kill Rock Stars on CD and Jealous Butcher on vinyl.

Laura Gibson will open the trek. She also provides harmony vocals on Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke. [MORE...]

Rachael Ray Asks Battles, Holy Fuck to Play SXSW Party
Holy Fuck indeed

When we saw this on Idolator, we were like, no fucking way. Yes, we already knew foodie superstar Rachael Ray is an indie rock fan-- she put twee group the Boy Least Likely To (along with Nellie McKay and Puffy Amiyumi) on her Too Cool for School Mixtape for Kids back in the fall of 2006.

But there's a big difference between the Boy Least Likely To's gentle coos and the abrasive instrumental art rock purveyed by Battles and Holy Fuck. I mean, if you try cooking to this stuff, you might end up with a whole arm chopped up in a blender.

Regardless, we've just received confirmation that yes, Rachael Ray did indeed invite Battles to perform at her SXSW party. And Holy Fuck too! (Can you even say that word on the Food Network?) Alas, Battles won't be participating-- they aren't doing SXSW at all this year. No word yet on Holy Fuck.

UPDATE: Looks like this band the Ettes is playing the Rachael Ray party, according to a press release. 

According to this Earl Boykins post, Rachael's party is called "FEEDBACK Showcase...a feast of hot bands and tasty foods" and is taking place Saturday, March 15 from 12pm to 6 pm (rumor has it that it will take place at Beauty Bar).

We're sure of one thing though: no matter which bands play, this party is going to have the best catering table at SXSW.

Panther Gain a Member, Issue 14kt God LP, Tour

The one-man incarnation of plinky Portland funksters Panther had bite, sure, but one guy ain't quite enough to give a Panther proper pounce. So Charlie Salas-Humara enlisted the help of former 31Knots drummer Joe Kelly and turned Panther into a two-piece just in time for 14kt God, the new duo's forthcoming LP and Kill Rock Stars debut. KRS will assist the Panther boys in dropping the golden God February 19. Not on their toes, we hope.

Care to catch a glimpse of the Panther in its natural habitat? Check 'em out on the road, where they'll spend a good chunk of the winter-- including a little time with that questionable lot in Why? and those puzzlers in Cryptacize. [MORE...]

Mission of Burma, Shellac Donate to Callum Auction
Also stuff from the Evens, Shudder to Think, Kristin Hersh, Jawbox, John Vanderslice

Callum Robbins turned two over the weekend, but he's got more buds than most folks twice his age. As you know, Callum is the son of Jawbox/Burning Airlines/Channels man J. Robbins and Channels' Janet Morgan. Unfortunately, Callum has Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, an incurable genetic motor neuron disease.

The indie rock community has come out in droves to support Callum's cause, holding numerous fundraisers to help J. and Janet in paying for Callum's treatment and care. Now, more pals of Callum have started an auction of cool swag on eBay that oughta help keep you and the Robbins family rockin'.

Items up for grabs include: a signed eight-piece set of ultra-rare Mission of Burma 12" singles issued just prior to The Obliterati, copies of Shellac's hard-to-find LP The Futurist, a copy of Craig Wedren's Shudder to Think lyric notebook from the Pony Express Record era, a 4-DVD set of footage from the Pony Express Record sessions, a signed 250-gram vinyl test pressing of John Vanderslice's Emerald City, a vinyl test pressing of Jawbox's (awesome) For Your Own Special Sweetheart, a children's package from Kristin Hersh, and a silkscreened Evens poster signed by Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina.

In the non-tangible department, they're also auctioning off a guitar lesson from Geoff Farina of Karate/Glorytellers and a drum lesson from Jawbox's Zach Barocas.

All that is available for your bidding pleasure right here. Most of these auctions end in just about a week, so you'll want to act fast.

Not sure you're ready to step up to the auction block, but still want to support the cause? You can donate directly to the Robbins family here. Or you can support Callum Robbins via Gordon Withers' Jawbox on Cello: A Benefit for Callum Robbins, a CD of Jawbox tunes rearranged for a cello quartet. That disc is available now. Finally, for a great collection of live tracks from past Callum benefits (plus another opportunity to donate), head to Bradley's Almanac at once.

J Mascis' Witch Issue Paralyzed, Hit the Road

They barely play live and they don't practice, but with a pedigree like theirs, why would they bother? Witch, the gnarly punkish-metal meet-up of Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis, old Mascis chum Dave Sweetapple, and Kyle Thomas of out-there folkies Feathers, will issue their sophomore effort, Paralyzed, March 18 on Tee Pee.

The disc, like its predecessor, ought to bewilder those looking for a searing Mascis shredfest, as the six-string king heads behind the drum kit where Witch is concerned.

And that "barely play live" thing? That may just be a thing of the past. Following a set at SXSW and a handful of U.S. dates, Witch will take to Europe for a few weeks in the spring.

In other Witch news, they're among the bands in Volcom's ongoing singles series. [MORE...]

Eliot Lipp Steps Outside on New LP

From the din of the studio into The Outside comes the latest long-player from electro whiz-kid Eliot Lipp. The disc-- which, with its clattering beats and murky instrumentation, still seems better suited for a dimly-lit room than a church picnic or something-- is due from Mush April 8.

Lipp's got quite a few live engagements to his name over the coming months, with those dates after the jump. And Mush has an engagement with producer/master remixer Pedro March 8, when they issue his You, Me & Everyone in the UK. [MORE...]

King Khan Takes BBQ Show, Shrines on the Road

Photo by Dania Heller

Woo! Yeah! Awright! Should you dare step into the strange world of King Khan & BBQ Show or King Khan and the Shrines on their European tours, expect exultations like these-- and a fair number of retro-minded rock'n'roll psych-outs-- to rattle around in your brain for days afterward.

Khan and his various collaborators will follow up a trio of previously reported Irish gigs with an all-out assault on Europe, barreling through February, March, and half of April. UPDATE: Looks like a summer U.S. tour is coming together as well.

Care to catch a glimpse what you've been missing? Check out this way trippy photo set posted in these pages Monday and, like, see the music, man. [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.)