Kanye Tour: Muppets, Holograms, Daft Punk Lights
Music will be played as well

This Kanye West guy is pretty extravagant, right? Starting a travel website, writing ridiculous blog posts, and hanging out with everyone and their grandparents in the process. Plus, we hear he puts on a pretty good show.

With Kanye's usual serving of showmanship and support from Rihanna, N.E.R.D., and Lupe Fiasco, we already knew the upcoming "Glow in the Dark" tour was going to be a two-month-long capital "E" Event. Then again, big events are par for Kanye's course, so what's the big deal?

Well, Kanye knows people expect great things from him, but when it comes to this tour, according to the man himself, "I tell people, 'Hey, this show is gonna be crazy,' and they say, 'I bet it is!' BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA!"

Now, however, we have some idea, thanks to pictures Kanye posted on his blog. The first one [above] is a blurry image of the "ENTIRELY NEW DESIGNED SET," and the ones after the jump are non-nude-but-still-probably-NSFW pics of Hype Williams' "SHOOT 4 THE HOLOGRAM GIRLS," whatever those are.

As a complement to the photographic evidence of "Glow in the Dark"'s potential for greatness, here's an itemized list of the stuff we haven't seen yet. From Kanye's keyboard to your screen:

-"ROBOT DESIGNED BY ACCLAIMED ARTIST CHRISTIAN COLON"
-"CREATURES BY THE LEGENDARY JIM HENSON'S CREATURE SHOP"
-"LIGHTING BY MARTIN PHILLIPS AND JOHN McGUIRE, RESPONSIBLE FOR LAST YEAR'S FESTIVAL ANNIHILATOR, DAFT PUNK'S PYRAMID, POSSIBLY THE GREATEST LIGHT SHOW OF ALL TIME!!"

Skeptics should note: "MY SET DOES NOT HAVE A PYRAMID IN IT OR ANYWAY FEEL LIKE A BITE OF DAFT'S SHOW."

Not neglecting the musical portion of the show (aka the reason for the tour in the first place), Kanye has spent the last month and a half "RE-ORCHESTRATING EVERY TRACK 2 FOLLOW A NARRATIVE." He follows that revelation with a possible explanation for all the caps: "WE'VE LEARNED TO SURVIVE OFF OF 1 HOUR OF SLEEP A DAY!" [MORE...]

Rare Nina Simone Live Cuts, Interviews on Digital Comp

The late Nina Simone-- ultra-distinctive vocalist, "High Priestess of Soul", and general badass-- has a collection of previously unreleased video interviews and live songs that will hit iTunes on April 8.

The collection is titled Protest Anthology, and it is the first in a five-release series from digital distribution company the Orchard. Named for the political bent of its content, Protest Anthology contains live renditions of some of Simone's biggest hits, including "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" and "Mississippi Goddam". Nice! [MORE...]

Firewater Reveal The Golden Hour, Tour

Genre-hopping collective Firewater have returned from a long absence to deliver their new album. The record is called The Golden Hour, and the music contained therein features contributions from local musicians in India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Israel. The reason why: frontman Tod A's three-year sabbatical from the U.S. in the aforementioned countries, during which he crafted the album. If you want to know more about the trip, either head over to Tod's blog about it or watch the documentary about The Golden Hour's origins included on the enhanced CD.

The Golden Hour comes out May 6 on Bloodshot Records, and Firewater are supporting the record on a world tour that takes up most of April, May, and June. The band's next show is April 8 in Rennes, France. [MORE...]

RZA Reveals New Bobby Digital Album, Tour

And you thought all that stuff he did on 8 Diagrams was weird. RZA-- brilliantly blunted Wu-Tang Clan maestro or "hip hop hippie," depending on just who you're talking to-- is back with Digi Snax, yet another slice of robotic, futuristic mind funk under his Bobby Digital moniker. The album is due July 1 from Koch, though its first single, the Inspectah Deck-lacked "You Can't Stop Me Now", hit the internet (and, of course, that Forkcast over there) a few weeks back.

RZA's got big plans to hit the touring circuit in support of Digi Snax this summer, backed on his June and July dates by Wu-Tang associates Stone Mecca (who appear on Digi Snax and have their own LP, First Contact, due June 10 from Touch the Music Records). He'll slice through Los Angeles this weekend before heading to the UK later in the month.

Of course, RZA is never only working on just one thing at any given moment. He's set to appear in the forthcoming film Repossession Mambo, starring Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, and Liev Schreiber, and is working on another season of Afro Samurai.

As for the Wu, they're playing at Harvard on April 18.

[MORE...]

Rob Lowe (Lichens) Issues Art Book/CD on Thrill Jockey
Lowe's Singer to tour this spring

For the third installment in their series joining art books with original music, Chicago's own Thrill Jockey Records have kept things local. Robert A.A. Lowe-- aka Rob Lowe, once of 90 Day Men and now of Lichens and Singer-- has teamed with Chicago designer Rose Lazar to create Gyromancy.

The 4"x6" "perfect bound" book collects artwork from both Lowe and Lazar. It comes accompanied by a 3" CD featuring a single track entitled "Psygning Off", composed entirely and organically by Lowe at his home in an effort to create synergy between the words and music. The limited edition set will be available April 8, and 100 extra special copies will be "hand-crafted" by Lowe and Lazar.

Lowe's Singer, who recently issued their debut on Drag City, are set to embark on a tour later this month, kicking off April 18 in Grinnell, Iowa. Those dates are available for your looking pleasure after the jump. [MORE...]

Neva Dinova Cut Saddle Creek LP, Tour With Ladyhawk

Neva Dinova is named after frontman Jake Bellows' grandmother, and the Nebraska five-piece's third LP, You May Already Be Dreaming, was put to tape in the corner of an Omaha warehouse-- which makes them a pretty much perfect addition to the homely Saddle Creek roster.

Saddle Creek geeks will already recognize Neva Dinova, however, as the act that split that Crank! Records EP One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels with Bright Eyes way back in 2004. Get to know them even better when Dreaming arrives April 8 on CD, LP, and digitally from Saddle Creek.

Neva Dinova, have you met Canadian trad-rockers Ladyhawk? Not to be confused with your Saddle Creek labelmates Ladyfinger (ne)? Great. Now tour around the U.S. together this spring. [MORE...]

See a Ghost? Must Be the New Black Angels LP
Black Angels sign to Interscope imprint Suretone for releases after this one

Photo by Briana Purser 

Better start brooding now-- you've only got a few more weeks until the new Black Angels LP drops, and you wouldn't want them to catch you smilin'. On May 13, the Austin, Texas done merchants will swoop down and lay a brand new slab of dimly-lit, electrically-charged rock'n'roll by the name of Directions to See a Ghost on us, with a little help from Light in the Attic Records. The follow-up to 2006's Passover finds the band once again churning it out with producer Erik Wofford.

If you're itching to hear the choirs of Angels for yourself sooner than mid-May, Light in the Attic have quite a little deal for you. Starting April 15, go to your local record shop to purchase a download code which will let you have at the album more than a month in advance. Drop back by the same shop on or after May 13 and you'll be handed a copy of the CD plus a four-song bonus EP.

Though Light in the Attic may be doling out these Directions, Angels recently signed to Interscope imprint Suretone, home to the Cure, Angels & Airwaves, Chris Cornell, and others. They'll be putting out future Black Angels releases.

Tour dates for these Angels are falling into place, with a few scattered North American dates surrounding a May UK run highlighted by their appearance at the ATP vs. Pitchfork soirée, and then a full tour with like-minded psychedeliks the Warlocks this summer. [MORE...]

Autechre Kick Off North American Tour Tonight

Tonight in Los Angeles, Rob Brown and Sean Booth-- the human analogs who comprise Autechre-- will hit the stage at Los Angeles' Echoplex on the first of a dozen all-too-rare North American tour dates.

The British IDM innovators, as you may know, have lined up said dates this month in support of their recently-released Quaristice LP. Once this particular run wraps in D.C. on the 17th, the pair have plans to head to Japan for a couple new dates. [MORE...]

YLT, B&S, Kimya Dawson on Second Juno Soundtrack

Though the movie only converted one of its four Oscar nominations into a win, we should have known better than to assume that would stop the Juno juggernaut. The twee-beast's newest tentacle is a second soundtrack of sorts, this one featuring tracks from Yo La Tengo, Belle & Sebastian, Kimya Dawson, Astrud Gilberto, Buddy Holly, and the movie's star, Ellen Page, playing a song written by Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody.

Titled Juno B-Sides: Almost Adopted Songs, the Rhino release is a digital-only compilation of songs intended for but not used in the movie. Director Jason Reitman assembled the compilation, which will debut with an iTunes-exclusive release on April 8 before making its way to other digital retailers on May 13.

Juno fans can also look forward to the movie's DVD release on April 15.

Juno B-Sides won't be this year's only showcase for new Kimya Dawson tunes, by the way. According to a Billboard.com report, the cutesy songwriter has written an album of children's songs she hopes to release in August called... Alphabutt. Get it? Because it's for kids, who need to learn the alphabet but also really like to talk about butts! Dawson's collaborators on, um, Alphabutt include former Third Eye Blind guitarist Kevin Cadogan, as well as some of her friends and their children. If you're hungry for song titles, here's your feast: "The Alphabutt Song", "Seven Hungry Tigers", "Little Monster Babies", "Wiggle My Tooth", and "Pee Pee in the Potty." Really.

In much cooler Kimya kid news, she's also in the very beginning stages of working with the producers of "Sesame Street" on music for the show and her own potential appearance on it. Additionally, she contributed a song called "Anthrax" to the soundtrack for Body of War, a documentary about a young veteran of the war in Iraq.

Finally, Dawson still has a heap of previously reported shows to play. [MORE...]

Teenagers and Team Robespierre Link up for Tour

Brooklyn synth punkers Team Robespierre have linked up with French/British pop mischief-makers the Teenagers for a round of North American dates that will take place in late April and early May.

Both of the upstart bands also have headlining shows apart. The Team will play with Matt & Kim in the coming days, and the Teens have a handful of UK dates at the moment before heading off for shows in North America, Europe, Japan, and Russia. [MORE...]

Norah Jones' "Secret" Rock Band Signs to Team Love!
Band reveals intention to "Rock Yer Balls Off"

Photo by Todd Chalfant

Shhhh, you're not supposed to know this, but...Norah Jones-- yes, that Norah Jones-- has a rock band. No really! They're called El Madmo, and they first surfaced in low profile mode back in 2006. Lead singer/guitarist Jones-- excuse me, "Maddie"-- even dons an adorable Zorro/Hamburgler disguise in an attempt to avert the spotlight. But keep all this between you and me, okay? You don't want mom coming to see this. Mom doesn't want to know her adult-contempo darling Norah, like, cusses and stuff, let alone has a song entitled "Rock Yer Balls Off".

Cover-blowing headlines aside, Jones will have a significantly harder time keeping her role in El Madmo under wraps now that the act has signed to Conor Oberst's Team Love imprint. The label will issue El Madmo's self-titled debut full-length on May 20.

According to the Team Love press release, El Madmo "offers escape, justice, karmic postulation, and that feeling you get when you know something that no one else does." Cherish that last one while you can, kids!

Oooh, looks like they're superheroes too:

[MORE...]

David Karsten Daniels Readies New LP, Tours

Self-recording songwriter David Karsten Daniels will follow the fear we experienced looking at the cover of last year's Sharp Teeth with the release of a new album called Fear of Flying. The record comes out April 29 via FatCat.

Daniels will avoid his aviation fear by playing a landlocked tour of North America with Nina Nastasia in late April and early May. Before then, he has two weekly residencies, one at Portland's Mississippi Studios and the other at Seattle's Nectar Lounge. [MORE...]

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