Liars Confirmed to Open Radiohead's Spring U.S. Tour
Thom Yorke grills Mayor of London on climate change; Liars work with Kenneth Anger

As George Washington once famously said, "I cannot tell you how much Liars kick ass."

Radiohead know this too, which is probably why they've enlisted G-Dub's fave noise rock trio to open their first round of 2008 U.S. dates. That's right, folks: the rumors are true.

The rabble-rousing fibbers will join forces with Thom Yorke and his Rainbows warriors beginning May 5 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Liars have a trio of EU dates before then-- including two in Russia!-- while Radiohead have their previously mentioned BBC Radio 2 gig April 1, and plenty of live activity following their Liars meet-up.

Apart from the two Russian gigs, Liars will also appear at the Donaufestival in Krems, Austria in late April, where they'll link with acclaimed and influential filmmaker Kenneth Anger to present Anger's new "audiovisual live-performance project" Technikolor Skull. Anger will also premiere his new feature Ich Will! at the festival. Unfortunately, Liars have had to cancel a pair of UK gigs-- including their appearance at the Explosions in the Sky ATP-- in order to accommodate the Radiohead itinerary.

In other news from the Radiohead front, Thom Yorke recently sat down with Mayor of London Ken Livingstone to discuss the climate crisis, carbon emissions, London's congestion charge, bicycles, and the like. Check out the Observer Magazine interview here, and read Yorke's introductory letter as Observer Magazine guest editor here.

Finally, don't forget to dust off that VHS-playing apparatus... [MORE...]

Robyn Announces North America, UK Tours

So that must've gone well. Following a handful of Stateside appearances in February and a smattering of raved-about performances at South by Southwest, Robyn will return to North America for a decent-sized tour, according to Perez Hilton and confirmed by her label. The trek kicks off April 29 in Boston and eventually touches down in L.A. May 17.

This sort of thing should happen all the time. Of course, we know it can't: Robyn's got the rest of her adoring public to attend to, after all. And she's up to just that, with dates in Australia, a London gig in the middle of next month, and a half-dozen UK dates to follow in June.

Then there's the little matter of her "Who's That Girl?" single, due next month in several formats. And, finally, Robyn will finally make its way to the States in April from Konichiwa/Cherrytree/Interscope. [MORE...]

The Mountain Goats Cancel Australian Tour
Bad day, mate

Photo by Natalie Kardos

John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats announced on his website last week that his Australian tour-- which was scheduled to kick off April 5 in Perth-- is off, due to "personal medical reasons."

"Everybody knows I don't cancel a show unless I absolutely have to; what's worse, coming to Australia is the highlight of our year." He continues, "If it weren't serious, I would be leaving for Oz next week, believe me. You'll be doing me a great favor if you keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and if you know in your heart that I don't play around in doing right by the people I love: I will be back to make this up to you."

In other Mountain Goats news, Darnielle's installment in the 33 1/3 album-book series-- in which our folk-rock superhero delves into Black Sabbath's classic Master of Reality LP-- is due in stores April 15, and Heretic Pride, his recent high-caliber LP, is in stores now. Darnielle also appears on the new Bellafea album Cavalcade, due out May 6 on Southern. [MORE...]

Universal Axes Be Your Own Pet Songs Due to Violence

Punk rock has always had a destructive, thrill-seeking streak, going back to such early rabble-rousers as Blondie's "Rip Her to Shreds", the Ramones' "Beat on the Brat", and the Stooges' "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell". The havoc-wreaking songs on Be Your Own Pet's brand new album Get Awkward are just the latest additions to this lineage of cartoonish mayhem.

But three Get Awkward tunes were removed from the album's U.S. version at the last minute, having been deemed too violent by Universal Records. (Universal releases Be Your Own Pet's albums through a deal with the band's U.S. label, Ecstatic Peace.)

"Blow Yr Mind", "Black Hole", and "Becky" all appear on the international version of Get Awkward, released by XL Recordings.

Yes, Universal, an imprint of the Universal Music Group, home to such family-friendly artists as Eminem, 50 Cent, Marilyn Manson, and (formerly) Nine Inch Nails, thinks these songs are too violent to be heard by American audiences. Yes, this is the same company that once put out records by a band that calls itself ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. However, none of those acts features an adorable, barely post-teenage blonde girl as a frontwoman, as Be Your Own Pet do.

"Blow Your Mind" is a 45-second juggernaut that turns its title into a threat. "Black Hole" bitches about living in a dead end town with nothing going on, so "let's go and kill someone". It also contains the immortal line, "Eating pizza is really great / So is destroying everything you hate!"

"Becky" tells a Heathers-style tale of best friends turned worst enemies:

Doesn't matter anyway, 'cause I've got a brand new friend, OK
Me and her, we'll kick your ass
We'll wait with knives after class!

If only what you wrote in my yearbook was true
Then I wouldn't be stuck in fucking cell block 2
But I don't regret what I've done,
'Cause in the end, it was fun!

Andrew Kesin, General Manager of Ecstatic Peace, finds the matter confusing and disheartening. "This is not indicative of how we've operated with Universal," he said. "They've never said a word about anything we've ever done before. This took us all by surprise."

Kesin said that the decision to axe the three songs from the U.S. version of the album came "very late in the game, three or four weeks before street date." (When we originally reported the album's tracklist back in November, they were on there.) "It's such a drag. There was nobody to even talk to about it."

In an interview with New York University's Washington Square News, Pearl spoke out about the matter:

"When I found out that the songs were going to get taken off, I was just like, 'Is there anybody I can talk to?' It's like, I don't even really know who these people are. There's no one you can talk to to try to argue your case. Other than that, Universal has been great. But I guess that's just what happens when you decide to have something to do with a major label. They're going to be scared of anything that's not completely cookie cutter."

"I also feel like it's a good thing to have an outlet. Like, maybe I would be a very violent person if I didn't have the chance to sing about what I want to sing about and express things I want and it's definitely helped me from being a destructive person in my life. And I think tons of people relate to that, so it's kind of frustrating that they want to censor me or whatever."

Currently, "Black Hole" is streaming from Be Your Own Pet's MySpace page, and "Black Hole" and "Becky" are streaming on Be Your Own Pet's website. Kesin said that plans are in the works to release the three songs in the U.S. as a single via XL.

Be Your Own Pet are on tour in the UK and Europe now, with plans to tour America this summer with She Wants Revenge, whose breakout single "Tear You Apart" concerns wanting to tear your hair out and "fucking tear you apart". Wanna guess what company put out that record? [MORE...]

Girl Talk Preps Night Ripper Follow-Up, Debunks Leak

Photo by Jason Bergman

After spending the lion's share of his time since 2006's Night Ripper on tour, Gregg Gillis is hard at work recording the next Girl Talk album for a late spring/early summer release. And while Girl Talk is very Web 2.0-accessible in concept and execution, the new record has not leaked, despite the appearance of an imposter this week.

In a MySpace blog post from Thursday, March 20, Gillis wrote, "Yesterday, someone posted a fake 'leak' of my upcoming album. I was not involved in this at all. The music posted had nothing to do with me. Please spread the word that the leak was fake." Done!

Now that we've got that cleared up, let it be known that the actual new Girl Talk record is tentatively titled Wild Peace IV: Feed the Animals, Raise the Dead, and in a press release, Gillis says it was created in the same way as Night Ripper but in a different spirit:

"I come up with little pieces of new material to experiment with at the live performances each week, and the general direction and style of the album naturally evolves over time... If you've seen me live recently, you've heard new material that will show up on this release...

"This album is going to be dense with samples like my previous releases, but I'm trying to give some of the parts more room to breathe. I'm focusing less on sporadic chops and more on having pieces of the album build. The new material definitely has its share of quick cuts, but it's less dependent on that style. I think it's more dynamic because of it."

Whenever it comes out, Illegal Art will give Wild Peace its online and CD release, while Wham City will handle the vinyl. And speaking of non-stop touring, Gillis has a few shows lined up; scope those below. [MORE...]

The Roots Host Picnic With Gnarls, Deerhoof, Diplo
And Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Santogold, J*Davey, Esperanza

Toss that Frisbee this-a-way, Cee-Lo! Pass the potato salad, Satomi! Oh wow, Diplo, those burgers you're grilling sure smell good!

One can expect exhortations such as these-- plus, as your main course, jams aplenty-- to waft like the sweet smell of freshly-lit charcoal all over Philadelphia's Festival Pier June 7 when the city's favorite sons the Roots host their Roots Picnic. Joining the Roots on the big stage will be Gnarls Barkley, Deerhoof (here's hoping for a Saunier/Questlove drum-off!), Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Santogold, Diplo, J*Davey and Esperanza, and more to bee announced

The Roots' tenth LP-- the similarly well-RSVP'd Rising Down-- is due April 29 from Def Jam, and the Roots have a bunch of U.S. tour dates over the next few months.

Thanks to Sam Fanburg for the picnic tip. [MORE...]

Marissa Nadler Haunts the Road This Spring

Occasionally we call something a "spring tour" when, in fact, it's just a string of dates that so happen to fall within the confines of the season. But spring, which sprung for reals and officials earlier this week, still has three months to go, and Marissa Nadler is touring through practically all of them.

She'll hit the Netherlands over the weekend, sweep across continental Europe through mid-April, break for just shy of a month, head back to Europe for a small spate of gigs-- including her appearance at the ATP vs. Pitchfork Festival in Rye, England-- and wrap things up with a brief North American run in June.

And, if that's not enough touring for you, there's also a date way way off in November in Nadler's Boston hometown. All that, plus she's reportedly working on the follow-up to 2007's heavenly Songs III: Bird on the Water and some covers of Judee Sill, Robbie Basho, and Elizabeth Cotten. Busy lady! [MORE...]

Call the Black Lips Hotline: 949-836-7407
"Give us a ring if you are in trouble, need advice, or are just plain lonely."

Photo by Daniel Arnold

In between rocking countless shows and recording fine record after fine record, the Black Lips find plenty of time for out-and-out fun. Whether it's leading a parade and inspiring people to get arrested, playing a show at a WhirlyBall rink, acting in a movie, or hanging out with little kids, these Atlanta schemers always seem to be stirring up some sort of mischief.

For their latest move, the Black Lips have started their own hotline, with Boost Mobile footing the bill. Dial or text 949-836-7407 (or, if you will, 949-TEN-SH0P) and, in the unlikely event you miss the busy signal, you should be greeted by either Cole, Jared, Ian or Joe.

Apparently, the phone has been ringing off the hook; according to their publicist, they've received calls from as far away as France, Austria, and Qatar (the latter call from a soldier.)

On their blog, the Lips wrote, "We got a new phone and don't know what to do with it so we started a hotline. It's inspired by CB and Hamm radios, because people don't use those anymore, and we think truckers are cool. It'll give us something to do in the van. The minutes will probably expire, and I'm not paying for that shit. Give us a ring if you are in trouble, need advice, or are just plain lonely."

And, hey if it gets really annoying, they can always chuck that sucker out the window of the tour bus. Which reminds me: the Lips' tour-- the U.S. leg of which wraps over the weekend in their native A-town-- just got a little bigger, with a new trip to Europe in the first half of next month. As previously mentioned, they'll hit the UK pretty hard in May, with a stop along the way at the ATP vs. Pitchfork Festival in Rye, England. [MORE...]

Anti-Pop Consortium Kick Off Reunion Tour

Photo by Sarah Friedman

Last summer, we spoke with the four future-minded folks who comprise the Anti-Pop Consortium-- Earl Blaize, M. Sayiid, Beans, and High Priest-- just as they'd announced plans to reform for both a new album and a tour.

The album, which they had planned to get to work on back in October, is still a bit of a mystery. But that tour is upon us, and soon! It kicks off tomorrow night (March 22) with two shows in New York, followed by a trip to Europe that has the Consortium warming up a few crowds for Public Enemy's recently announced, All Tomorrow's Parties-assisted spins through their seminal It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. It's for Don't Look Back, which, appropriately, is just the kind of advice Anti-Pop Consortium have always taken. [MORE...]

Justice, Cee-Lo, Junior Boys, Matthew Dear Do WMC
Plus: Madlib, Cool Kids, Gui Boratto, Biz Markie, MSTRKRFT, A-Trak, M.A.N.D.Y., Moby

The scrappy indie kids have their SXSW, but for the 12"-happy, headphones-toting electronic music (and adventurous hip-hop) fiends of the world, it's all about the annual Winter Music Conference in perennially summery Miami.

This year's gathering descends on the Florida city March 25-29, with the core events going down at Miami Beach Resort & Spa and myriad satellite happenings hitting pretty much any other spot in town that can contain a booty-shaking bassline.

Sure, the Van Dyks and the Oakenfolds and the Tiëstos of the world will be there, but so will Justice, Cee-Lo Green (actually performing with Paul Oakenfold), Matthew Dear, Gui Boratto, Biz Markie, the Cool Kids, MSTRKRFT, Madlib, Moby, Fischerspooner, A-Trak, Dominik Eulberg, Erol Alkan, Ewan Pearson, Underworld, the Crystal Method, DJ Mehdi, Carl Cox, Frankie Knuckles, Chip E., Peanut Butter Wolf, M.A.N.D.Y., Nôze, Heidi, Henrik Schwarz, Metro Area, Âme, Tiefschwarz, Digitalism, Switch, Felix da Housecat, Boys Noize, Heartthrob, Para One, Princess Superstar, Butane, Kate Simko, Bugz in the Attic, Z-Trip, Shy Child, Vikter Duplaix, Steve Bug, Martin Landsky, Argy, Danny Tenaglia, Jimmy Edgar, Radio Slave, Loco Dice, Ben Watt, Cobblestone Jazz, edIT, and Jesse Rose, just to name a select few.

If your eyes can handle it, a full list of WMC goings-on awaits you here.

Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige Launch "Heart of the City" Tour

Though the "Heart of the City" tour-- the rap/R&B juggernaut featuring the pretty much inarguable leaders of both genres, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige-- doesn't kick off 'til tomorrow, it seems Jay's itching for a little warm-up.

Tonight, Jay will take the stage at Miami Beach's Jackie Gleason Theater for a pre-tour show (what do you think the chances are that Mary shows up?). Then, he and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul will join forces Saturday evening in Miami for the first of a month and a half's worth of collaborative dates.

Quite a few gigs have been added since we checked in on 'em last time, so if you were feeling neglected, you may want to take a second glance. (Sorry, Denver-- you're still neglected. An April 23 show at the Pepsi Center was announced and cancelled within the same day, for some reason.)

Mary's live plans are all tied up with "Heart of the City", but Jigga, as you know, has been expressing a fondness for the headlining spot on a number of big ol' summer shindigs. Jay's taking the top of the bill at the Hove Festival-- about damn time, too!-- as well as Glastonbury, British Columbia's recently-announced Pemberton Festival, and Germany's Splash! Festival. He'll also join Linkin Park for a one-off gig just after Glastonbury at Milton Keynes, England's National Bowl. [MORE...]

Atlas Sound Signs to 4AD in Europe

Photo by Matthew Taplinger

Deerhunter frontman turned Atlas Sound juggernaut Bradford Cox has signed to 4AD for the release of Atlas Sound's debut, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, outside of North America on May 5. It seems a spot-on match in aesthetic terms, and the label will expand upon the work done by Kranky in North America by adding an extra disc of new material to the release (details forthcoming).

Bradford's planning a full-blown European tour for May, but right now the only two scheduled Atlas Sound performances are in mid-May at the Explosions in the Sky-curated All Tomorrow's Parties festival and July 19 at the 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival.

Deerhunter will end their hiatus with a few European dates in May and June, including an appearance at ATP vs. Pitchfork. [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.)