Hercules & Love Affair, CSS, SMD Play RockNess Fest
Plus: Fatboy Slim, the Orb, Roísín Murphy, Underworld, Soulwax, Digitalism, Alan Braxe

RockNess, the Scottish festival with the punnily appropriate name given its location right on the shores of Loch Ness, is back for another go in 2008.

Speaking of puns, this year's self-described "Nesstival" takes place June 7 and 8. Among those hoping for a Nessie sighting: Hercules and Love Affair, CSS, Fatboy Slim, Simian Mobile Disco, Roísín Murphy, Underworld, the Orb, Soulwax, Digitalism, Alan Braxe, the Crystal Method (DJ set), Felix Da Housecat, 2 Many DJs, Mylo, the Count & Sinden, Midnight Juggernauts, Editors, Late of the Pier, and Maps.

Channel 4 is partnering with RockNess to broadcast the festival across the UK, and the television station's teen drama "Skins" is both sponsoring one of the festival's stages and sending casting agents to look for new stars. Now to convince "Gossip Girl" to do the same at Sasquatch!.

Mountain Goats Do Benefit, Darnielle Talks Health
"I and some doctors are tinkering under the hood, and I'll be firing on all eight pretty soon."

Photo by Natalie Kardos

John Darnielle had us pretty worried when he nixed a run of Australian Mountain Goats shows late last month, citing "personal medical reasons", reminding us, "I don't cancel a show unless I absolutely have to", and then adding, "You'll be doing me a great favor if you keep me in your thoughts and prayers."

We were thus relieved somewhat when Darnielle returned to his website last week to post an update on his health situation.

Writes Darnielle: "First, let me assure everybody that I don't have anything terminal or anything. I am facing some chronic health stuff, to which I'll need to learn to adapt. But I'm not going to die or anything. Members of the Darnielle family, historically speaking, live to be frightfully old. Second, while I'm not in any condition to tour right now, that doesn't mean I'm not going to make music or give readings or anything like that.

Indeed, Darnielle and his Mountain Goats have two special gigs lined up right now: a Supersnack-sponsored May show in Brooklyn benefitting AIDS Walk ("possibly a solo set, that one," says John), and a performance at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.

Darnielle also plans to do some readings at Durham, North Carolina's The Regulator bookshop and NYC's Housing Works, and to tour the UK before long.

As Darnielle concludes, "The most I'd like to say about my health is that I and some doctors are tinkering under the hood, and I'll be firing on all eight pretty soon. I thank everyone who has sent good thoughts; y'all mean the world to me and I will repay you as best I can as soon as possible." [MORE...]

The Feelies Reunite!

Think of a band you like and they probably like the Feelies. The New Jersey act has made an impression on more than a few folks since the seminal Crazy Rhythms LP landed in 1980, but-- barring some reunion-like activity back in 2006-- they haven't played a proper live gig in over 15 years. Look for that to change this summer.

According to a Billboard.com report, the Feelies will reunite to open for Sonic Youth at the River to River Festival in New York City's Battery Park. The big gig goes down July 4, and it's sure to eclipse any other sort of celebrating that might be happening that day.

On assorted dates throughout the summer, the River to River Festival will also welcome Atlas Sound, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, St. Vincent, Christian Fennesz and Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid, Akron/Family, and the U.S. debut of Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Feelies frontman Glenn Mercer, who issued solo LP Wheels in Motion last year, has a couple of his own shows leading up to the reunion performance. Check those below. [MORE...]

Islands Announce New Album Tracklist, Tour
And, um, reveal cover art...

No band is an island, but that doesn't exclude the plural. Like the strength in numbers implied by their name, Islands will bring people together throughout North America on tour this spring and summer.

Nick Thorburn and co. are out on the road in support of the band's forthcoming sophomore album, Arm's Way, out May 20 in North America via Anti-. That album now has a tracklist, including a song called "Pieces of You". Unfortunately, that title has been used before.

The album also has a cover, pictured above.

Wow. [MORE...]

Sebadoh Reissue Expanded Bubble and Scrape, Tour

Photo by Christopher Wilson

Beloved American indie rockers Sebadoh are getting ready to show a whole lot of love to their neighbors across the pond this spring. To complement a handful of UK dates in April and May, they will reissue their 1993 record Bubble and Scrape via Domino on May 5.

The expanded, 15th anniversary reissue boasts 15 bonus tracks, including B-sides, rarities, and previously unreleased jams. And U.S. citizens needn't worry: you'll get yours June 18.

By sheer coincidence (or, um, not), Bubble and Scrape is also the album Sebadoh will perform at their Don't Look Back show on May 7. They have plenty of dates in Europe besides, plus their stop at ATP vs. Pitchfork. Damn, that will be here in no time, won't it? [MORE...]

Elvis Costello to Host TV Show, Put Momofuku on CD

Elvis Costello seems like a good-natured, chatty fella with a deep love for artists and artistry. So who better to host a television program in which good-natured chats are the order of the day? Yeah, Henry Rollins, but he's already got a show. Your number's up, Elvis!

Costello will soon be all up in your telly, hosting the interview-centric "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...", according to a CTV press release. The Sundance Channel will provide the "Spectacle" in the States, while CTV handles things in Canada and Channel 4 plays host in the UK. Sir Elton John will executive produce the program.

As Costello himself says, "I'm not interested in extracting some dark secret. I'd rather hear about a bright secret, a deep love or a curiosity that might be otherwise obscured by fame. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk in complete thoughts about music, movies, art, or even vaudeville, then frame it with unique and illustrative performances." So, then, we'll get a little rock interjected into the talk? Excellent. And a portion of the show's income will be passed along to The Global Fund's AIDS relief work in Africa, so double excellent, then.

And, for fans of the compact disc, triple excellent. Costello's forthcoming Momofuku, scheduled to arrive on vinyl April 22 on Lost Highway, will not, as previously reported, be vinyl-only. According to a Billboard.com report, Lost Highway will issue Momofuku on CD May 6. Check out the tracklist below.

Finally, while we're on the Elvis Costello beat, note that his tour with the Police kicks off May 1 after a few headlining gigs with the Imposters. [MORE...]

Oasis and Ryan Adams to Tour Together
It must have been his cover of "Wonderwall" for "The O.C." that brought them together

Egos, hairdos, and cool shades will reign supreme on the late summer trek that Oasis and Ryan Adams & the Cardinals have just announced together. The first of these joint shows is in Seattle, and the rest are in Canada. Both groups have scattered dates apart as well. This is Oasis' first Canadian tour, and their first time playing live since 2006.

At the moment, Oasis are at work on their seventh studio album in L.A., but UK residents will hear Oasis-flavored tunes as soon as May 26. That's the release date of the double-A-side Paul Weller single "Have You Made Up Your Mind"/ "Echoes Round the Sun". Noel Gallagher co-wrote "Echoes Round the Sun" with Weller, and Oasis' Gem Archer plays guitar and keyboards on it. Both of the songs on the single are from Weller's forthcoming double solo album, 22 Dreams, out June 2.

Ryan Adams, meanwhile, continues to go crazy on the interweb.

Also, this is kinda funny:

(Thanks to JT Kendall for noticing that.) [MORE...]

Mogwai Play Young Team Live, Share Reissue Details
Reveal new album title?

Photo by Shannon McClean

Mogwai have been grinding away in earnest on the successor to 2006's Mr. Beast for a while now, as Mogwai fans well know. The Glasgow post-rockers are putting the finishing touches on that LP pretty much as you read this, and lookee here, a purported title has emerged: The Hawk Is Howling. Beats Howlin' Hawk, I guess.

The title, as yet unconfirmed by the Mogwai camp, appears on the website to London's Southbank Centre, which Mogwai will grace in May with a performance at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Thanks to reader Marcel Cordes for the tip.

No word yet on a release date for The Hawk Is Howling, but we do now know when that expanded, 10th anniversary Young Team reissue lands. Look for it May 26 in the UK on Chemikal Underground, and May 27 in the U.S. Oooh, and check out the bonus disc tracklisting-- packed with live cuts, radio sessions, and even a Spacemen 3 cover-- below. Vinyl fetishists can also scoop up a 4xLP box set Young Team reissue.

And it wouldn't be a 10th anniversary celebration without a live Young Team run-through. Mogwai have scheduled two such spectacles thus far, both at Spain's Summercase Festival, which hits Madrid and Barcelona on July 18 and 19.

Catch Mogwai digging into the rest of their catalog here and there as well over the coming months. [MORE...]

Dead Meadow, Cursive Rock Not Brooklyn Fest

People tend to have strong feelings about New York City, but the organizers of the Not Brooklyn Fest must have a special kind of love/hate relationship with the city and one borough in particular.

Taking place April 18 and 19 in Danbury, CT (decidedly not Brooklyn, NY; it's about 90 minutes north), this year's Not Brooklyn Fest features sets from Cursive, Dead Meadow, Neil Hamburger, the Appleseed Cast, Deer Tick, and former Moldy Peach Toby Goodshank, among many others.

In addition to the music at Danbury's Heirloom Arts Theatre, Not Brooklyn Fest also boasts a "punk rock flea market" on its second day with lots of vendors and even more music.

Dan Deacon, Buck 65, BSS/Constantines Guys Show Art

The truly creative minds out there don't just pick one medium and stick with it. Nah, they branch out, letting the spirit move them however it pleases, like that time Jewel wrote all them beautiful poems.

And, in that spirit, a few names who have more than likely rung through your ears will now do a number on your eyes. Dan Deacon, Buck 65, Justin Peroff of Broken Social Scene, Dallas Wehrle of Constantines, Chad VanGaalen, Jace Lasek of the Besnard Lakes, Ian Vanek of Japanther, Will Zimmerman of Shout Out Out Out Out, Yannick Desranleau and Chloe Lum of AIDS Wolf, and Tomas Del Balso of DD/MM/YYYY are among those who have contributed to an exhibit at Toronto's Whipper Snapper Gallery entitled "Colour Is the Keyboard". The show runs at the not-for-profit community gallery from now through April 13.

Photos: El Perro del Mar / Lykke Li [Bergen, Norway; 04/04/08]

Photos by Eirik Lande

Night and day, sun and clouds, cheer and gloom-- El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li may tread opposite sides of the emotional line, but for this gig at Bergen's Hulen over the weekend, the two combined their powers. El Perro kicked things off solo before inviting Lykke to back her up, eventually segueing into a full-on Lykke set, and finally culminating with a lovely duet.

Apparently we can expect tandem performances like this one when El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li hit North America with fellow Swede Anna Ternheim in May. Unfortunately, however, Lykke has been forced to cancel the remainder of her April Scandinavian gigs with El Perro. She'll pick things up again in London on April 18.

EL PERRO DEL MAR




LYKKE LI





[MORE...]

Prefuse 73 Forms New Band, Risil
Sort of parts ways with Warp Records? But not really?

A curious blog post appeared on the infotaintment autobahn late last Wednesday, credited to glitch-hop pioneer Guillermo Scott Herren, aka Prefuse 73. Under the subject heading "PREFUSE 73 STEPS DOWN AND OFF WARP.. TODAY'S NEWS.", Herren wrote, "As of today, after almost 10 years of churning out 'PREFUSE 73' music_ I am leaving the Warp roster (as "Prefuse"). This isn't a notification of retirement of the project, I'm simply moving on. No drama... .. I appreciate the love from WARP over the years regarding P73 and all they have done for me. In return, to all the fans that have given me so much support and still do, I love you for your ears and dedication through many years and changes."

Ah, OK, so he's leaving Warp Records. Sad, but we suppose everybody has to move on at some point in their lives.

But wait, what's this?

"I'm in a band that will be released on WARP RECORDS soon... I'll announce more on that when the rest of the band wants to."

OK then. So, Prefuse 73 isn't on Warp anymore, but some new project is? What's going on? A representative from Warp says, "we haven't parted ways, Prefuse is still on Warp. The message on his MySpace is a misnomer. The only info about the new band is that they're called Risil...and they're awesome." So, Risil, then!

Herren further writes, "I will continue to try as hard as I can to bring you the best music on record and live until I physically can't.....There are many definitive collaborations and projects that are Prefuse related and so on.. So, that's the story if you hear something different. It's only a new beginning."

And wouldn't you know it, the man's got tour dates aplenty over the next few months to prove it. [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.)